Something strange happened to me as I was researching last week’s post on the latest Elijah Craig Barrel Proof release. I found a new liquor store chain in my area. This is not the sort of thing that happens to me very often. I mean I try to keep tabs on this sort of thing. But I was looking for a press release, which lead me to the website of a liquor store industry publication who had a cover story about a Twin Cities liquor store chain.
My curiosity being piqued, I read the story only to find out that this particular chain had popped up way back in 2019. I’m sure there is some reason why I wasn’t out exploring between then and now, but I’m just going to chalk this up to the fact that they didn’t have a location in my immediate area. They do happen to have one very near to where my wife works. So being the good husband, I sent her shopping for me on her way home from the office. Mostly to scope out the place and see if it is worth making a journey to a location that seems bigger but is more out of the way. Her response was a definitive yes.
And on top of that, she brought home a present for me, which happens to be tonight’s bourbon. It is a store pick of Stellum Single Barrel bourbon. This one from the most recent “Vega” release of single barrels. We’ve covered Stellum before, but the brief version of the brand is that it is created by the same folks that produce the Barrell line of whiskies. Like that brand, Stellum is sourced from multiple distilleries in multiple states and then blended to make a unique product. Seeing how this bottle is a single barrel, it is labeled as having been distilled in Indiana. We can probably make an assumption as to which very large distillery it came from.
So let’s see how it tastes.
Stellum Single Barrel Bourbon, Vega M2 selected by Top Ten Liquors
Purchase Info: $54.95 at Top Ten Liquors, Rosemount, MN
Price per Drink (50 mL): $3.67
Details: 54.63% ABV. Selections made in the Spring and Autumn of 2021. Mash bill: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Barley Malt. Distilled in Indiana.
Nose: Ginger, nutmeg, cinnamon, caramel, and cedar.
Mouth: Spicy with oak, cedar, baking spice, caramel, and red fruit.
Finish: Medium to long and warm with notes of cinnamon candies and caramel.
Thoughts: This was very good. I’m particularly enjoying the sweet, spicy notes. The rye presence shows itself nicely. If you have a local store that has a pick from the Vega release, I'd grab it. This is a delicious example of very good MGP (I’m assuming) bourbon.
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