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Jim Beam Devil’s Cut Bourbon

June 16, 2022 America

Name: Jim Beam Devil’s Cut Bourbon

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Corn, green grass, light wood

Taste: Corn, green grass, light wood

Jim Beam Devil’s Cut is a “creative expression” from the Jim Beam Distillery. The nose and taste are the same (never a good sign) and it is a little hot on the taste. The mash is 76% corn, 12% rye, 10% malt, and estimated to be aged 4+ years but is a NAS bourbon.

The marketing tells you that “The Devil’s Cut” is the proprietary method of extracting the bourbon trapped in the wood staves of the barrel. So I guess they squeeze the shit out of the wood and filter out the booze and blend it with the regular Jim Beam. The counterpart to the “Devil’s Cut” is the “Angels Share“. It is the expression for the evaporation through a barrel in colder climates. It is also the name of a good movie about scotch.

Devil’s Cut reminds me of Crown Royal vs. Crown Royal Black. The Crown Black is just a richer tasting expression whiskey compared to it’s baseline expression. Devil’s Cut tastes a little richer than regular Jim Beam Bourbon.

Priced around $50 and is ok. If you like to drink Jim Beam, try it for yourself, but I was not impressed at the price.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Eagle Rare Bourbon

June 2, 2022 America

Name: Eagle Rare Bourbon

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Corn/malt, oak, green grass

Taste: Sweet corn, honey, vanilla, oak, brown sugar

Eagle Rare is a straight bourbon, aged approximately 10 years, bottled at 45% abv, and is an undisclosed Buffalo Trace mash bill #1 expression (possible low rye mash). It had a decent taste and is a little spicy on the tongue. When ice is added, it dilutes too quickly, and the flavor rapidly disappears. Add a few drops of water and the flavors opens up and holds a little better. Eagle Rare also won a bunch of awards. Congratulations, I hope the metal was very shinny and the ribbon was soft and silky.

It is decent bourbon, but it was not really fooling me to be amazing at the price versus Buffalo Trace’s baseline price of $35+. Recently on the JRE Podcast a guest asked Joe Rogan why he did not have any Eagle Rare in his studio since he is sponsored by Buffalo Trace. I give that guy credit, he did his homework.

Priced around $45 and it’s fine to drink, but it is not fooling me to be anything too special.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Buffalo Trace Bourbon

May 11, 2022 America

Name: Buffalo Trace Bourbon

Color: Copper

Nose: Corn, vanilla, caramel, dark fruit

Taste: Corn, vanilla, oak, molasses, spice

Buffalo Trace Bourbon comes from the Buffalo Trace Distillery which is located in Frankfort, Kentucky. This bourbon has been around for a long time and is owned by the Sazerac Company.

Buffalo Trace is a large distillery and produces many different expressions and products. They also supply smaller start up distilleries that can not fund the cost of operating a full distillery. Other popular expressions that produced: Colonel H. Taylor, Eagle Rare, George T. Stagg, Old Taylor, Sazerac, W.L. Weller, and many more. If you are not familiar with some of these bourbons I recommend you try them. I visit Kentucky every October and these bottles are on every bar and most stores and they are well known.

One interesting item of note is that Joe Rogan on his podcast “The Joe Rogan Experience Podcast” has cracked open a bottle of Buffalo Trace more frequently than any other whiskey since I have started listening to his show. I believe they are a primary sponsor.

Buffalo Trace Bourbon is decent stuff and tastes good for the price but ultimately it is the baseline whiskey for other produced expressions. I find it better for cocktails or slugging it down with friends in the Bluegrass State.

Priced around $40 and worth it to have it on your bar at home for a mixer or to give as a gift.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Sagamore Rye Signature

April 21, 2022 America

Name: Sagamore Rye Signature

Color: Orange brown

Nose: Vanilla, rye, white pepper

Taste: Rye, light spices, vanilla caramel

Sagamore Spirit Whiskey originates from Baltimore, Maryland and is owned by the owner Under Armor clothing. The marketing claims that Maryland produced rye whiskey before Bourbon was created in Kentucky. This makes sense when you look at how America’s colonies and states developed, however, I can now smell a Mad Men marketing a mile away before I taste a whiskey.

Sagamore Rye is the baseline expression bottled at 83 proof. This expression has a light nose and a decent taste profile, but compared to the other expressions it is very basic baseline rye. I was informed this expression is 75% of the Sagamore business which would make sense due to the cost of this bottle versus the other expression which can be double and then some. You can not blame a business for making a product affordable that is its cornerstone of production and revenue. However, you can blame it if the cornerstone is absolute shit. Sagamore Rye’s are NOT shit.

If you know where you can purchase all the expressions in a store in the NYC or North New Jersey area please let me know. I only a few different expressions in the stores and they are usually the Signature of the Cask Strength. I would like to purchase a few different expressions for my summer cocktails in 2021.

I recommend Sagamore Rye Signature for cocktails or on the rocks.

Priced around $40 and worth the money to start experiencing Sagamore Whiskey

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Calumet Farm Small Batch Bourbon

April 20, 2022 America

Name: Calumet Farm Small Batch Bourbon

Color: Brown

Nose: Corn, vanilla, wood, dark fruit

Taste: Corn, vanilla, orange cream, light oak

Review:

Calumet Farm was established in 1924 in Lexington, KY and produced numerous champion racehorses. At some point they started making bourbon, and by “making” I mean sourcing it. From my research on their limited information, they source the whisky from Western Spirits by Three Springs Bottling Company in Bowling Green, KY. They then market they shit out of it in a unique and sexy looking bottle.

It is stated that this expression is a blend of 7-8 year-old and 14-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon. The mash bill is 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley, and bottled at 43% abv.

The first taste gave me a nice balance with an impressive flavor profile. The second taste was very smooth, and I was more impressed. This one was a new experience for me as I had not heard or tried this bourbon before. I do not see it on the shelves here in the NYC area.

Other expressions: 15, 14, 12, 10, 8, Small Batch, and The Pedigree.

Priced around $60 and a decent tasting bourbon. I look forward to trying more expressions to see how they hold up..

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Opinions Vary: What is Best Bang for the Buck?

February 22, 2022 America

Opinions Vary: What is Best Bang for the Buck?

When you think of the question “What’s the best bang for the Buck?” it quickly becomes a very subjective question. For me it depends on what I like to drink and what my wallet can handle. It (and most things) come down to money, quality, and proof (abv). So basically it is Price & Proof if you want a good bang.

The best whiskey for the value has to be connected to the proof for the bang. If you read my reviews you know I am not a fan of cask strength whiskey, but when it comes to maximizing price, I recommend you get the strongest whiskey at the best price. For me I have come to the following conclusions:

Bourbon Best Bang for the Buck:

Knob Creek 9 Year (100 proof) for $35 or Sagamore Rye Cask Strength (112.2 proof) for $60.

Scotch Best Bang for the Buck:

Any 12-Year-Old Single Malt for around $50. If I had to pick two it would be Tomatin 12 or The Singleton 12 at $40 (summer drinker) or Talisker 10 or Laphroig 10 (winter drinker) at $65. Most will be around 80 proof.

Special Occasions Best Bang for the Buck:

18-Year-old Single Malts, Johnnie Walker Blue or other high-quality whiskey give great bang for the buck for you and 1-2 friends drinking with you. If you open a $125-$250 bottle with a recognizable label in a larger group it will evaporate quickly. So buyer and drinker beware, chose your whiskey and friends wisely.

If you are stretching your dollars or spending a fair amount to serve to multiple thirsty people you will want to manage your expectations and wallet. Usually, if you buy a few bottles for a party I know it is going to be drank in mixers, cocktails or on the rocks. So I will go with Knob Creek every time.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Journeyman Last Feather Rye

February 17, 2022 America

Name: Journeyman Last Feather Rye

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Rye, white pepper, dried fruit

Taste: Rye, vanilla, cream, pepper/spice

Journeyman Spirits originates from Three Oaks, Michigan and is stated to be a hand-crafted artisan spirit. The distillery notes that all the ingredients are locally sourced organic grains and a local aquifer supplies the water. The factory that distillery operates out of has some interesting history of producing various old timey items for adults. You can look it up.

The distillery, like many new distilleries produces other spirits to support the whiskey production. Journeyman Spirits also produces vodka, gin, rum, brandy, and liqueurs.

Last Feather Rye is bottled at 45% abv and is a mash of 60% rye and 40% wheat. This rye is their flagship product and has won some awards. (if you read my reviews you know what I think about awards). I sampled was Batch #49, Bottle #413 from the three 200ml bottle box set. I thought the box set was a good price and killed three bottles with one purchase. I found the Last Feather Rye a little on the sweet side and is not that impressive of a flavor profile. It is what it is, which is a young, rough, and locally made slugging whisky that has made its way onto the market. Journeyman Rye reminds me of Mark Twain’s quote: “There is no such thing as a bad whiskey, some are just made better than others”

Priced around $50 and it’s your call to buy a bottle but maybe just get the 3 pack and decide for yourself.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Sagamore Reserve Series

February 10, 2022 America

Name: Sagamore Reserve Series

Color: Light Yellow

Nose: Light, flowers, spice, honey, grass

Taste: Rye, semi-sweet, white apple fruit

Sagamore Reserve Series is aged 5 years, bottled at 101.32 proof, and finished in Calvados barrels for up to 2 years. Calvados is an apple (or pear) brandy from the Calvados region in Normandy, France. The Calvados barrel finish gives nice apples notes and the French Oak gives some nice tannins to the whiskey. The overall taste profile is more on the lighter side and I feel would make more of a summer rye cocktail than a winter drink.

Overall, I am impressed with Sagamore’s expressions so far and this one is no exception.

Priced around $75 and a little pricey for a mixer but worth a try to experience the flavor profile on a rye.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Angels Envy Bourbon

February 3, 2022 America

Name: Angels Envy Bourbon

Color: Light brown

Nose: Corn/malt, vanilla, orange, port wine sweet

Taste: Corn bourbon, light cream notes, port wine finish

Angels Envy is a Straight Kentucky Bourbon, aged 4 to 6 years, and bottled at 43.3% abv. The bourbon is matured in charred oak of barrels and is finished in Port wine barrels. Angels Envy is created by the Henderson Family and is produced by the Louisville Distillery in Kentucky which is owned by Bacardi.

The bottle I sampled was Batch No. 752 and Bottle No. 8840. It is different tasting than most bourbons I have sampled due to the port finish. The port wine finish is nice touch, but for traditional bourbon drinker this may not be to one’s liking. The bottle is a tall and flat shaped and imprinted wing that stand out through the bourbon and is unique looking. It is also a thin bottle that is easy to hide at your desk at work.

Other expressions produced by Angel Envy are:

Port Finish
Rum Finish
Cask Strength,
Sherry Cask 2019
Tawny Cask 2020

Good to drink straight or on rocks and maybe an after-dinner drink. I do not recommend it in cocktails, but the website has several receipts.

Priced around $55 and worth the money if the flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Jack Daniels – Sinatra Select

December 7, 2021 America

Name: Jack Daniels – Sinatra Select

Color: Dark Brown

Nose: Sweet mash mix, soft oak, apples, vanilla

Taste: Honey, vanilla, butter scotch/cream, dark fruits

Review:

19 Days until Christmas! Do you have all your gifts and bottles ready?!?

In honor of Hoboken’s favorite son, Old Blue Eyes himself, I shelled out some money to sample Jack Daniels Sinatra Select in honor of The Chairman of the Board. This expression was created in honor of Frank Sinatra, and it was said he was buried with a flask of Jack Daniels.

This whiskey is very smooth with caramel cream and dried dark fruit notes. It is aged in “Sinatra barrels” which have deep groves in the staves and get extra toasted oak to allow the whiskey to absorb the flavor of the barrel. It is is non-age stated with a mash bill of 80% corn, 8% rye and 12% malted barley. It is bottled at 90 proof and expensive for being Jack Daniels, but it has an advantage that it is a 1 liter bottle, not the standard 750ml size.

Sinatra expression has almost no taste comparison to No.7 Jack Daniels. It is extremely smooth and very easy to drink. There is no charcoal, banana skin, or rough mash finish. If regular Jack Daniels was even half as good as this expression, I would drink it regularly drink Jack Daniels. But, it is not, so I do not drink Jack Daniels.

Priced around $165 and I would not spend the money on this for myself, but if you know someone who is Jack Daniels drinker and Sinatra fan it would make a wonderful gift.

As of June 2021, I am having a hard time finding a bottle in any stores in the NYC area.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Jim Beam Devil’s Cut Bourbon

Eagle Rare Bourbon

Buffalo Trace Bourbon

Sagamore Rye Signature

Calumet Farm Small Batch Bourbon

Opinions Vary: What is Best Bang for the Buck?

Journeyman Last Feather Rye

Sagamore Reserve Series

Angels Envy Bourbon

Jack Daniels – Sinatra Select

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