Father's Day Gift Ideas from the Readers of BourbonGuy.com

June 6, 2019 Eric Burke

A couple weeks ago, I gave away a pair of socks to a lucky reader. But, being the sneaky devil that I am, I required them to answer a question for me in order to enter. In this case, I asked them what "gift-worthy" relatively available bourbon they would give to someone for Father's Day.

That’s right, I got the readers to do my work for me. And as I had hoped, I found the information interesting and I think you might too.

10 “Gift-Worthy” Bourbons as Chosen by the Readers

IMAGE: Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond, Single Barrel, 10 years old

1. Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond 10-year old.

This beloved darling of a whiskey was the most submitted bourbon by the readers. And with good reason. This is an affordable bourbon that comes with a 10 year age statement. That combination is a rarity these days. Of course since this just won multiple awards at the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, including “Best in Show Whiskey” I don’t know that I would expect to see this sitting on the shelf anytime soon. But if you do, grab a bottle. It really is quite good. Spicy, rich and complex. And if you see two, maybe grab one for a gift too.

2. Colonel E. H. Taylor Single Barrel Bourbon

One of two suggestions coming from the EH Taylor portfolio, Single Barrel is just what it sounds like. A Single Barrel, Bottled in Bond Bourbon. Clocking in at 100 proof, this one should be high enough proof for the experienced drinker but not proofed so high that it scares away the novice. I haven’t had this one personally but the distillery says this: “The aroma carries lightly toasted oak, with dried figs and butterscotch. One sip brings flavors of sweetness balanced with tobacco and dark spices. The finish is just long enough to prepare the palette for another sip. The bottle itself is a likeness to Colonel Taylor's original design used over a century ago.”

3. Four Roses Single Barrel

This is one of my favorite bourbons and my favorite in the Four Roses line-up. In my mind when I think of “bourbon flavor” I’m thinking of Four Roses Single Barrel. Of course, I am an admitted Four Roses Fanboy so take all of this with a grain of salt. In fact, the last time I wrote about it I had a very short review of it: “This is a fantastic bourbon. If you haven't had it yet, you should. If you buy it and you don't love it, I'll be happy to drink it for you if you send it to me.” And as a gift, not only does it come in a lovely bottle but if your local store has private selections, you can get something unique as well.

4. Blanton’s Single Barrel

This is one of five entries on the list that is made at the Buffalo Trace Distillery. This particular entry will be a bit hard to find most of the time. Though it isn’t impossible depending on where you live. Introduced way back in 1984, Blanton’s was the original Single Barrel and helped kick off the Bourbon Renaissance we are living through today. Internationally, there are multiple labels in the Blanton’s portfolio, including a Barrel Proof version that is to die for. Here in the US, we only get this one. But don’t be too sad, it is a hell of a bourbon and any person would be happy to receive it as a gift…if you don’t decide to keep it for yourself.

IMAGE: Booker’s Bourbon Batch number 2018-03

5. Booker’s Bourbon

This is one that you will not want to give to everyone on your list. Regularly clocking in at well over 120° proof, this is not for the bourbon novice. If your recipient is an experienced bourbon lover though, you cannot go wrong with Bookers. Sweet, thick, chewy and delicious, I am never disappointed with a bottle of Booker’s. Makes me wish I had a bottle right now.

IMAGE: Promo shot of Colonel EH Taylor Small Batch

6. Colonel E. H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon

The second of two suggestions coming from the EH Taylor portfolio, Small Batch is also a bonded bourbon. I’m a bit ashamed to admit this, but I haven’t had this one either. Not sure how the entire E.H. Taylor line escaped my attention, but I should probably remedy that soon. In any case the distillery says this: “Tastes of caramel corn sweetness, mingled with butterscotch and licorice. The aftertaste is a soft mouth-feel that turns into subtle spices of pepper and tobacco.”

7. Eagle Rare Bourbon

I’ve had this bourbon on my shelf numerous times over the course of my bourbon journey and I’m going to tell you something. I’ve never noticed that the top of the E in the logo was an eagle head until right now. As a graphic designer for almost two decades, that bothers me more than it should. But maybe I can be excused, I mean most of the time I’m looking at this bottle, I’m focused on what is inside it, not on the label. This ten year old bourbon from the Buffalo Trace company clocks in at a respectable 90° proof and is probably my favorite bourbon from the distillery that is available here in the States.

IMAGE: Promo Shot of Four Roses Small Batch

8. Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon

This is the bourbon that I give as a gift most often. It is mellow and smooth, comes in a pretty bottle and tastes delicious. It is a great gift for the bourbon novice and is tasty enough for the bourbon expert. In fact, for a long while it was my go to from the Four Roses lineup before finally being overtaken by Single Barrel in the last few years.

9. Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon

Small Batch Select is the most recent release from Four Roses Bourbon, and the one in my glass as I wrote this. I got mine on my last trip to Kentucky since unfortunately it isn’t available nationwide yet. Non-chill filtered and clocking in at a hefty 104° proof, this is a bourbon to give to the experienced bourbon drinker. Being a mix of OBSV, OESV, OBSK, OESK, OBSF, and OESF recipes, this bourbon caters to the floral side of the Four Roses flavor profile without skimping on the spiciness. If you live in an area where this is for sale, it’s a no brainer as a gift for a whiskey lover that lives in the rest of the country.

10. Stagg Jr. Bourbon

This final entry on the list is another barrel proof, unfiltered bourbon. This time from Buffalo Trace. Named similarly to George T. Stagg of the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection, Junior is a bit younger than the 15+ years of its older brother. Stagg Jr. doesn’t carry an age statement but is assumed to be in the 6-10 year old range. And as one of the readers who suggested it said: “Separates the men from the boys.” I’m assuming he means the women from the girls as well. But the sentiment is correct, this is a burner.

BourbonGuy.com accepts no advertising. It is solely supported by the sale of the hand-made products and bourbon-related craft supplies I sell at the BourbonGuy Gifts store. If you'd like to support BourbonGuy.com, visit BourbonGuyGifts.com. And hey, if you are an iOS user, look for Bourbon Guy in Apple News. Thanks!

Wilderness Trail Settlers Select Single Barrel Rye Whiskey

June 4, 2019 Eric Burke

IMAGE: Wilderness Trail Single Barrel “Settlers Select” Rye Whiskey

Holy Fuck!

Today was one of those days where your phone bleats out an alert for an incoming tornado. To be honest, I didn’t even know that my phone was set up to do that. I’m kinda glad it did. I was three hours deep in a two hour animation project and I was a bit inattentive to the color of the sky outside. When the sky turns green, you know that some nasty shit is about to go down.

I got all the pups downstairs and honestly they had fun for the first couple minutes, exploring all the new areas that they never get to go to. It kind of reminded me of the one time there was a bomb threat called in to my elementary school. We all evacuated to a nearby church. We played and romped, but after a while we got bored. Similarly, boy did these pups get bored. And it took way less time than in my memories of elementary school. We were down there for fifteen minutes…after five they were barking in displeasure. Loudly. And continuously.

But the storm passed just about the time my wife got home, luckily with no damage to cars or structures. The yard was flooded, but it has been for most of the spring. The dogs were happy to be released. And I was ready for a drink.

By chance, I grabbed tonight’s bottle (I had it out to photograph for tonight’s post before the storm hit) and my wife made me a delicious cocktail with it.

Wilderness Trail Settlers Select Single Barrel Rye Whiskey

Purchase Info: $63.99 for a 750 mL bottle at Liquor Barn, Louisville, KY

Details: 56.5% ABV. Barrel Entry Proof: 100° proof. Mash Bill: 56% Rye, 33% Corn, 11% Barley Sweet Mash. Barrel#: 15D17. Bottle 50/221. Non-chill filtered.

Nose: Earthy with Cardamom and mint.

Mouth: Spicy. Mint, cinnamon, sesame seed, honey.

Finish: Medium finish. lingering notes of cinnamon and cardamom

Thoughts: Last year right about this time I reviewed the first release from Wilderness Trail, their Bottled in Bond Bourbon. At the time I said: “I wasn't paying attention to Wilderness Trail previously, but I sure am now! This is one of the few Craft Distilleries to have put out a product that can not only compete with the big boys in their own style but would beat some of them too. I really like this and cannot wait to see what comes next.” So, as you might guess, I was super excited to try this rye whiskey. I was prepared to love it.

Well, I don’t love it. I do however like it. Overall, this is a decent rye. It shows a lot of spice and has a nice mouthfeel. Sometimes I get very young tasting notes when I have this, other times they are nowhere to be found. It depends on what else I’ve had on my palate that day. As such, for me, this has been relegated to a cocktail rye most of the time. And honestly, the price I paid does not match the uses I am normally putting it to.

Bottom line: It has a youthful brashness rather than the barrel flavors that would come with further aging. You may love this. If so, I recommend it to you. For me, there is nothing wrong with it that more time in the barrel wouldn’t fix. If however, you prefer your ryes to not come with the chance of overly youthful exuberance, then maybe go with a Sazerac, Wild Turkey or Rittenhouse Rye and save yourself quite a few dollars. Personally I bought it on vacation (with the vacation splurge on spending) so although I’m a bit disappointed by it I do not regret buying it.

Of course, maybe it’s just the barrel I lucked into. Single barrels vary after all. For instance, I had a glass at 21C in Louisville and thought it was quite good (though not worth the $18 per pour asking price). So your milage may vary. However I probably won’t be buying it again until it has a bit more age under its belt.

New Riff Bottled in Bond Rye

May 30, 2019 Eric Burke

IMAGE: A bottle of New Riff Rye hiding in the mint plants

Stress. It’s an insidious thing. When I was a young man, I always thought I thrived on stress. I thought that I did my best work just under the deadline. And as such, I reveled in the thrill of rushing to get a project done. The rush of relief as I was finishing was worth the stress of rushing to get to that point.

But one day I had a panic attack at work. Somewhere along the line, I had gotten older and the stress and my anxiety had caught up to me. Stress was now a trigger. And it triggered both my anxiety and my depression. All of a sudden, work was a lot less fun. But luckily for me, I soon found myself some freelance clients. And shortly thereafter, I also found myself involuntarily self-employed as the company I worked for decided to let their entire marketing department go.

For me, this was the best thing that could have happened. I actually thanked the sympathetic (and now very surprised) HR person who came to have me sign the severance paperwork. It was great. I no longer had the stress of a 9 to 5 job. My mental health improved as I was now working on my own schedule and could balance my own workload. But on top of that, I was able to develop a second source of income as a dog sitter. I love dogs. I like them better than most people. A dog may tire me out, but seldom will they cause me stress.

Well until last night. Last night I had a 150 pound Great Dane decide that he was the boss and he bit me. Twice. Once on each arm. No worries, I was and am alright. It could certainly been worse. Just a bit of bruising due to his very large and powerful jaws. The stress, however, didn’t come from the bite. I’m pretty good at letting even big dogs know that I am the alpha in the house. No, it came from telling an owner that I wasn’t going to be able to take care of his baby. That is the hardest part of the job. I’ve only had to do it a couple times and this is the only time that it was because the dog bit me.

Afterward, I decided that I really wanted a drink. And since we had just done tasting notes for the New Riff Rye and it was still on the counter, I decided to grab that. I won’t say it was worth getting bit for, but it was damn good.

New Riff Rye Bottled in Bond

Purchase Info: $45.99 for a 750 mL bottle at the distillery gift shop. (I also bought a bottle at Old Town Wine and Spirits in Louisville, but lost the receipt. I assume I paid a similar price.)

Details: 50% ABR. 4 years old (Fall 2014-2018)

Nose: Cinnamon, mint, vanilla, brown sugar

Mouth: Cinnamon, spearmint, vanilla, allspice, cherry, pipe tobacco.

Finish: warm and medium length. Lingering cinnamon spice and just a touch of dill.

Thoughts: Folks, this is a delicious rye. Nice and spicy with just a hint of sweetness. I really enjoy this as a sipper. Works pretty well in cocktails too. Plus it sells for a relatively decent price. I just wish it was sold locally. But we already get their Bourbon, so I’m assuming that it is just a matter of time.

A Visit to New Riff Distillery

May 28, 2019 Eric Burke

Ever since New Riff Bourbon hit the shelves here in Minnesota a few months ago, I have been very high on the company. There has been a bottle of one of their whiskeys on my shelf since that first taste. Locally, it sells for a decent price and the quality is very good.

Due to that, it should come as no surprise that, on my last trip to Louisville, I decided to make the almost two hour trip to visit the distillery. They offer three tours. The Bonded Tour for $10, which runs everyday Tuesday through Sunday, shows you the distillery itself. The Barrel Proof Tour is $20. It is offered every other Wednesday evening and takes you out to the aging warehouses. The Inside the Lab Tour is $35 and is offered the last Thursday evening of each month and takes you inside the lab along with a member of the distilling team. It was an easy decision for me as I was in the area for the weekend so the only offering available to me was the Bonded Tour. All of the tours include $10 off of a $25 purchase in the gift shop the day of your tour.

If you are a long time bourbon lover, you may be familiar with the Party Source, just across the Ohio River from Cincinnati, Ohio. If so, you know exactly where New Riff Distilling is located as they share a parking lot. In fact, the two companies share more than a parking lot. The former owner of the Party Source was one of the founders of New Riff. As it is against the law to be both a producer and a retailer (or distributor for that matter), he sold the Party Source to the employees when he decided to start New Riff. It works out well though, the store is very convenient if you want to do a little shopping after your tour.

IMAGE: A view of the New RIff still room through the front of the building.

Our tour started outside the building. Here we got a great view of the column still though the all glass still room. Our tour was on a day they weren’t running, but I have to imagine that the still room gets extremely warm with both the heat of the still and all that glass focusing heat from outside. After our tour guide gave us the brief history of the company that I related above, we moved around the building to see the grain receiving and storage areas while he explained that they get their corn locally from non-GMO sources and source the malt and rye from overseas. And of course, he mentioned that they give the spent grains to local farmers for cattle feed.

IMAGE: 5600 gallon fermenter filled with fermenting distillers beer.

After we saw where the grain arrived, we got to see a bit of what they did with it. That is, we saw their 5600-gallon fermenters. At this stop, the tour guide told us their tagline “A New Riff on an Old Tradition.” He explained that while they recognize and respect the past of Kentucky Bourbon, they wanted to be sure that they were playing their own riff on it. He explained it as Jimmy Hendrix playing the Star Spangled Banner. You know the song, but you can tell who the artist is too. To that end, one of the first hires they made was a very experienced brewer. That’s right, a brewer, not a distiller. Having worked for the Boston Beer Company (Sam Adams) for many years, he was experienced in fermentation and since that is where the whiskey-making process starts, it made sense to start there.

After we learned about the fermenters, we visited the grain milling room, the cooker and were told about their water. New Riff is very proud of their water. When they started planning for the distillery, they found that there was an aquifer right under the property. They dug their own private well and use this water in many parts of the production process. First and foremost, they use it in the cooking of grains. Since it comes out of the ground at 58° F all year round, they also use it in the cooling process for both the cooker and the fermenters.

The next stop was the Still Room. This is where we were lucky that it was the distilleries day off. Not only could we hear our tour guide, but we didn’t leave the room feeling like we’d just been steamed. All of these stops took place in a relatively small area. In fact you can see both the cooker and the door to the still room in the image of the fermenter above. This is not a big distillery, it’s just bigger than most small distilleries.

After the visiting the Still Room, we were taken to where the whiskey leaves the facility. They don’t age on-site. If you want to see that campus, they offer tours to the aging facility as part fo the Barrel Proof Tour. We did get to taste a few whiskeys in this room though. We tasted the Bonded Bourbon that is their flagship product, a single barrel that is sold at barrel proof, and their Bonded Rye. All of their products are non-chill filtered, and their whiskies are either Bottled in Bond or barrel strength and at least four years old.

If you are in the Cincinnati area, I’d highly recommend a visit. New Riff is doing a lot of things right and it shows in their products. Having had their bourbons, I walked out with a bottle of the Bonded Rye and a bottle of their barrel-aged gin (they don’t call it that because legally they can’t, even though that is what is happening). Look for the rye review on Thursday and the gin one sometime this summer.

IMAGE: Front facade of New Riff Distilling Company

My Maker's Mark Ambassador Experience

May 23, 2019 Eric Burke

IMAGE: The green grass and black buildings of the Maker’s Mark Campus.

If you are new around here, I should tell you first and foremost that I am a fan of bourbon. I’m not an expert, though I’ve learned quite a bit in my fandom. I’m not a journalist, though occasionally I share a press release. I’m not 100% impartial, though I try my best to recognize my biases and account for them in my writing. I’m a fan. And much like I wear my favorite college team’s gear, I’m also a member of various bourbon fan clubs.

Clubs like the Maker’s Mark Ambassador program.

It was 2011 and I was on my first trip to Kentucky. Somehow, I had convinced my (then) non-bourbon-drinking wife that this was a great place to visit on our spring vacation. We did the entire Bourbon Trail (plus Buffalo Trace). This was back when tours were free and the entire trail consisted of only 6 stops. We visited Four Roses when its gift shop was the size of a closet, Wild Turkey before its current distillery was built and Jim Beam before they actually gave tours of more than just an aging warehouse. Back then, the only distillery that really seemed to understand the fan experience was Maker’s Mark. They took us on a tour that included the distillery, gave us a tasting and told us about the Ambassador program.

The Ambassador program, was described to us thusly:

Sign up on the computers in the giftshop.
Get in a queue to have your name engraved on a copper plate that is affixed to an aging barrel.
When your barrel comes of age, you’ll be invited to the distillery for a private tour and have the opportunity to buy a couple of bottles of Maker’s made from the contents of your barrel.
In the mean time, they will send you Christmas presents every year.

My wife and I both signed up (she was a confirmed bourbon drinker by the end of our weeklong trip). And the above is basically what happened. But along the way, we ran into a few snags. In our “welcome packet” were a few forms to allow us to sign up new Ambassadors. Unfortunately a computer snafu resulted in our information being replaced by the new signups. Which by the time we had it straightened out resulted in our first Christmas gift going to someone else and a two year wait to get our names on a barrel. It was only finally resolved by a polite email to Bill Samuels Jr.

And then we were finally officially Ambassadors. We were getting cool gifts like an “Maker’s Ugly Sweater” for our bottles, a Maker’s Santa hat for our bottles, silly gift boxes, bottle mistletoe, and most recently socks with little Maker’s bottles on them. We were invited to Ambassador meet-ups at local liquor stores. We got emails detailing everything from the proof-lowering snafu to the release of Maker’s 46, Cask Strength, and Private Select.

Along the way, I started writing more. I got serious about being serious about bourbon. I started to feel like maybe I’d grown past the Ambassador club. But then, I got the email that our barrel was ready. I was like a kid on the night before Christmas. It was as if I was back in 2011 and everything was fun and I wasn’t nearly as jaded. It reminded me that I was a fan of bourbon first and someone that talks about it second.

So we took our trip to Kentucky and visited Maker’s Mark. We didn’t take the tour, because we’d been on so many over the years and it looked like it was just the regular group tour, but we did buy and dip our bottles. They had our names and Ambassador number on the label. The trip was fun. The visit was fun. The dipping was fun. We had fun. And to me, that’s what being a fan is all about.

Breckenridge, A Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys

May 21, 2019 Eric Burke

I haven’t purchased any Breckenridge whiskey for at least seven years. And I think I only bought it the one time. If I remember correctly, it was ok but I wasn’t terribly excited to buy it again. But when I saw it on the Mini Shelf at Binny’s Beverage Depot as I travelled through Illinois on my way to Kentucky, I thought it might be a good candidate for the series of “revisited” posts that I’ve been doing occasionally.

Of course, there was one issue with that plan. It turns out that I never did a review to revisit. I’d spent the last seven years, assuming that I had. I actually forgot that I never reviewed it.

This kinda bothered me. I’ve never been one to remember birthdays, or anniversaries, or holidays, or even appointments. But that is mostly because I am not very good at remembering what day it is. I’m pretty amazing at remembering almost everything else.

Except names, I’m terrible at remembering names.

The first time I bought Breckenridge it was a sourced bourbon that was cut with local water. “Snowmelt from the Rocky Mountains” as the label states. It seems that somewhere along the way, they started adding a little of the whiskey they distill to the mix as well. So now they call the product “a blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys.” Which most of the time means that it is a combination of Straight Bourbons from different states. Of course as we learned from Steve Ury’s very informative post on American Blends, the word blend overrules the word straight and “a blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys” can have undisclosed additives such as caramel coloring and sugar as long as they don’t exceed 2.5% by volume. So, I guess all I know for sure about this bottle is that there are bourbons in there and they cut it with water.

Breckenridge, A Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys

Purchase info: $2.99 for a 50 mL bottle at Binny’s Beverage Depot, Bloomington, IL

Details: 43% ABV, 2-year age statement

Nose: Anise, Vanilla, Caramel

Mouth: Cinnamon, Licorice, hints of vanilla

Finish: Short. Cinnamon fades really quickly. The licorice hangs out a bit longer, though not long enough to make much of an impression if you aren’t trying to notice it.

Thoughts: So I think I realized why I forgot about reviewing this whiskey. It is a very forgettable whiskey. So much so that at one point during the tasting I got distracted by something else going on in the house and actually forgot what it tasted like before I could write the notes down. I wish I was joking.

Honestly, this isn’t really worth picking up. I remember it as being merely ok back in 2012 and now it isn’t even that. It’s on the lower end of meh for me.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, Batch B519

May 14, 2019 Eric Burke

I’d like to thank Heaven Hill for providing this review sample to me with no strings attached.

IMAGE: A sample bottle of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, Batch B519. It is 12 years old and 122.2° proof.

I’m not a “socks” person. I just really hate socks. I hate how they cling to my feet. I hate how they make my foot feel warm and damp. In fact, the only thing that I like about socks is the amazing feeling you get when you take them off and your feet can breathe.

Because of my aversion to socks, I’m barefoot most of the time. Even in winter, I don’t bother to put on socks or shoes if I’ll be outside for less than a couple minutes. I had a young boy ask his dad why I was barefoot once when I got the mail in January. In fact, I wear socks so seldom that when I actually do dig a pair out of my dresser, the dogs go nuts. They know that there is a really good chance that they are about to get a walk.

So, lucky for me, no one has ever gotten me socks for Father’s Day. A tie either for that matter. I usually get bourbon instead. Well, let me amend that. I’ve never received socks for Father’s Day until Heaven Hill sent a pair of Father’s Day socks along as part of their most recent media kit.

It’s been less than three months since I last reviewed a batch of Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. I always really like them so I probably wouldn’t have reviewed it again so soon. Except that they included those darn socks. I like running giveaways and since they were kind enough to include them, I figured it would be fun to pass them along to one of you.

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, Batch B519

Purchase Info: This was graciously provided by Heaven Hill for review purposes.

Details: 61.1% ABV. 12 year age statement.

Nose: Brown sugar, cinnamon, oak and a general nuttiness.

Mouth: Sweet and warm. Cinnamon leads the way on this one with cocoa and vanilla following on its heels. Underneath is a repeat of that nuttiness from the nose.

Finish: Warm and sweet. Lingering cinnamon, cocoa, toffee and a touch of mint.

Thoughts: As expected, this a very delicious bourbon. If I recall correctly, this is sweeter than A119. I’m really liking the cocoa notes and how they play with the very prominent cinnamon.

IMAGE: Elijah Craig Small Batch Socks. Enter to win this pair below.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

BourbonGuy.com accepts no advertising. It is solely supported by the sale of the hand-made products and bourbon-related craft supplies I sell at the BourbonGuy Gifts store. If you'd like to support BourbonGuy.com, visit BourbonGuyGifts.com. And if you are an iOS user, look for Bourbon Guy in Apple News. Thanks!

Bulleit Rye 12-Year-Old

May 9, 2019 Eric Burke

In light of recent allegations made by the daughter of Tom Bulleit of his homophobia and mental and physical abuse toward her, I have made the decision that BourbonGuy.com can no longer endorse products bearing the Bulleit name. The review below has been revised from the original version to reflect this new policy. New commentary has also been added.

IMAGE: a 100 mL sample bottle of Bulleit 12-year-old Rye Whiskey.

I’d like to thank Taylor Strategy for providing this sample to me with no strings attached. All notes and thoughts are my own.

I am a big fan of the MGP 95% rye style of Rye Whiskey. I’ve been a fan since I first tasted Bulleit Rye shortly after it was released. In fact, it was the first rye that I ever really paid attention to. Other ryes just sorta tasted like bourbon but this one tasted different. And over the years, the MGP 95% rye style (of which Bulleit is but one of a number) is easily the most common rye to sit on my shelves. And now that I’ve found that it plays amazingly nice with Amaro Montenegro, I’m guessing it will be on my shelf even more often in the future.

So like I said, I’m a fan of the MGP 95% Rye style of rye whiskey. Some of my favorite aged rye whiskeys have been sourced from MGP. Willett used to put out beautiful 5-12 year old ryes that were the prize of my whiskey shelf (while they lasted). These days, even if they put one out, you couldn’t afford one without a trust fund.

So I was initially pretty excited when I got the press release stating that Bulleit would be releasing a limited edition 12-year-old version of their rye. Especially when I noticed that it was only going to be about $50. I was less excited to learn of the allegations of abuse and homophobia by the face of the brand. Previous to learning of these allegations, I had requested a sample of it and get a taste.

Bulleit Rye 12-Year-Old

Purchase info: This sample was graciously provided by Taylor Strategy for review purposes. It is available in Colorado, Illinois, New York, Ohio, Oregon, California, Kentucky, Texas, Georgia, New Jersey, Arizona, Massachusetts, Maryland and Washington D.C. Suggested retail price is $49.99.

Details: 95% rye mashbill. 12 year old age statement. 46% ABV

Nose: Mint, pipe tobacco, cinnamon, dill, caramel

Mouth: Spearmint, dill, tobacco, black pepper, anise

Finish: Of medium length. Lingering mint, black pepper and anise

Thoughts: MGP makes a fantastic whiskey. Luckily for me, there are options for the MGP 95% rye on the market that don’t involve the moral balancing act required by the Bulleit brand. On one hand, MGP rye is delicious, on the other I’d rather not continue to enrich a man alleged to have abused his own daughter over her sexuality. So, I will be seeking out this juice from other brands, you however are free to make your own choice in the matter.

BourbonGuy.com accepts no advertising. It is solely supported by the sale of the hand-made products I sell at the BourbonGuy Gifts store. If you'd like to support BourbonGuy.com, visit BourbonGuyGifts.com. And if you are an iOS user, look for Bourbon Guy in Apple News. Thanks!

Blog

10 “Gift-Worthy” Bourbons as Chosen by the Readers

1. Henry McKenna Bottled in Bond 10-year old.

2. Colonel E. H. Taylor Single Barrel Bourbon

3. Four Roses Single Barrel

4. Blanton’s Single Barrel

5. Booker’s Bourbon

6. Colonel E. H. Taylor Small Batch Bourbon

7. Eagle Rare Bourbon

8. Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon

9. Four Roses Small Batch Select Bourbon

10. Stagg Jr. Bourbon

Wilderness Trail Settlers Select Single Barrel Rye Whiskey

New Riff Rye Bottled in Bond

Breckenridge, A Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys

Elijah Craig Barrel Proof, Batch B519

Bulleit Rye 12-Year-Old