Bourbon | NYC Whiskey Review

Black Dirt Bourbon – Batch #011

December 26, 2024 America

Name: Black Dirt Bourbon – Batch #011

Color: Brown

Nose: Carmel, toffee, vanilla

Taste: Smooth, vanilla, toffee, easy finish with little burn

I visited the Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery in Warwick, NY over the weekend to pick apples and sample their wine and beer. Upon my arrival, and to my great delight I discovered they also served their own whiskey. The bar adjacent to the gift shop inside serves and sells beer, wine and whiskey by the glass or bottle. I ordered the Bourbon #011 and received a “healthy” pour for $8. I was very surprised how smooth it tasted for its age.

The Black Dirt Bourbon Batch #011 is aged 3 years and 4 months in new American Oak barrels charred to levels 3 and 4. The mash bill is 80% corn, 12% malted barley, and 8% rye. The whiskey is 45% abv and the name “Black Dirt” refers to the fertile soil in the farming area. I would not have gone with “black dirt” from a marketing standpoint, but to each their own. The Warwick Distillery produces several different types of spirit in various size bottles. Other products produced; single barrel bourbon, crown maple bourbon, apple jack brandy, gin, wines (white and red), cider beers, and dessert wines.

Let me be clear, the whiskey was not “amazingly good”, but for a 3 year old bourbon styled whiskey it was a lot better than I was expecting. When it comes to small craft distilleries there has been a massive boom in the last decade. There are 65 distilleries in New York State (not all whiskey) and over 1,100 in America and growing. Personally, I like to support local businesses in a world full of corporate conglomerate controlled products.

Priced at $40 per bottle, it could be considered a bit expensive for a 3-year-old bourbon styled whiskey. However, I liked it, I enjoyed it so I bought it. And now I will now drink it!

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Taconic Distillery

November 7, 2024 NYC

Taconic Distillery is situated in the Hudson Valley region, but its official location is at 179 Bowden Rd. Standfordville, NY. The distillery is a former farm and is now owned by Paul Couglin, who used to be a Wall Street guy. He made the switch to the whiskey world in 2013 and has been making is mark ever since. Taconic is approximately 100 miles North of NYC so plan your travel time and transport method on the country roads. I recommend staying in Rhinebeck, NY at one of the many Bed & Breakfasts and having dinner in the downtown area.

After receiving a few bottles over the last couple of years Paul and I spoke and he invited me up for a behind the scenes tour. I visited on a Saturday in late October 2023. He showed me the distillery, rickhouses, bottling, and packing area. I was impressed to see the amount of volume produced in what would be considered a “small location”. It was very refreshing to go on a tour, even behind the scenes, where the owner shows you everything and is so full of passion. I have been on a few distillery tours before and they can get very dull very quickly. In the rickhouse I got to sign a barrel and in my excitement I spelled whiskey incorrectly on the barrel. I feel like a dumbass, I think I should probably buy that barrel. Paul, give me a call please.

Taconic has a nice outdoor patio with a view of the hillside and a smaller indoor space to order or enjoy drinks. Depending on the weather there will be food trucks and live music. The indoor bar has all the Taconic expressions to enjoy as a drink or purchase to take home. There are also other whiskeys, merchandise, coffee, and non-alcoholic drinks available to purchase. Since it was late October I thought it would be best to sample a Maple Old Fashion. They two were mixed by Carol Ann and they were very good. I really enjoyed them listening the music as the sunset over the farm lands hills.

Taconic expressions: Dutchess Private Reserve, Barrel Strength Bourbon Whiskey, Founder’s Straight Rye Whiskey, Barrel Strength Rye Whiskey, Double Barrel Maple Bourbon Whiskey, New York Wheated Bourbon, Bottled in Bond Bourbon, New York Single Malt Whiskey, Horse & Jockey Bourbon, Fox & Hare Rye Whiskey, Bourbon Cream, Rolling Hills Rum, Stubbornly Different Gin, Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup, and a few other specialized expressions.

I am glad I finally got up there and I look forward to going back soon. I highly recommend a visit if you are in Upstate area of New York or you should do an overnight trip!

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Taconic Dutchess Private Reserve – Christmas Edition

November 6, 2024 NYC

Name: Taconic Dutchess Private Reserve – Christmas Edition

Color: Brown

Nose: Corn, malt, vanilla, oak, caramel

Taste: Corn, malt, vanilla, oak, caramel, orange notes

Taconic Distillery’s “Taconic Dutchess Private Reserve” is from the Hudson Valley area of New York and was sent to me last year to review. I could not get it into the schedule for 2023, but I am making a point to get it into the 2024’s as the Holiday Season and shopping approaches!

This expression is titled, “Straight Bourbon Whiskey – Dutchess Private Reserve” and is bottled at 50% abv. It is non-chill filtered and is non-aged stated, but aged 5 years in charred American Oak barrels. The mash bill is 70% corn, 25% rye, and 5% barley. When tasted side by side with Taconic Bottle & Bonded, you can notice the aging has smoothed out whiskey more even though they are the same abv. Taconic states that their whiskey is good for sipping and/or cocktails. This expression is very good for sipping neat. It is well balanced, smooth, and has no burn on the finish.

A main point I would like to make is that Taconic makes several whiskies, spirits and merchandise and with Christmas past approaching any of their products would make a great gift! You can check out what can be ordered online or take a ride up to the distillery to enjoy a drink and their bar/store. Many thanks to Paul at Taconic for sending this bottle to me.

Priced around $60 and worth money. Merry Christmas!

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Larceny Bourbon

July 18, 2024 America

Name: Larceny Bourbon

Color: Light brown

Nose: Corn, vanilla, oak/wood, white pepper

Taste: Corn, wood, dark fruits (cherry), vanilla, honey

Larceny Bourbon is basic whiskey from Kentucky that claims to have “Origins in the history of the Old Fitzgerald brand…..”. Translation: “We distilled some cheap stuff for you to drink, but we needed some old Kentucky Bourbon romantic brand name story in the tag line to sell this stuff you…”

A few years ago, I was in Louisville, Kentucky and was talking with Cop about bourbon and the bourbon trail tours. The conversation went like this:

Chris

“What bourbon do you prefer to drink?”

Cop:

“I like Larceny.”

Chris:

“Why?”

Cop:

“Because it’s drinkable”.

The bourbon is bottled at 92 proof and the mash bill favors more to wheat than rye which yields a softer flavor profile. The nose is a young and tight and the flavor is similar. A little water opens in up and it would work fine as a summer drinker or a cocktail mixer.

Priced around $30 and I agree with the Cop, it’s drinkable.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Jefferson “Very Small Batch” Bourbon

July 4, 2024 America

Name: Jefferson Small Batch Bourbon

Color: Light brown

Nose: Vanilla, spice, citrus, caramel

Taste: Dark fruit, spice, caramel

Jefferson Very Small Batch Bourbon is a great way to celebrate the 4^th of July and will be drinking some today. Jefferson was first released by Castle Brands from Kentucky in 1997.

The Castle Brand does not distill their own whiskey. They acquire it from sources and blend and adjust it as they see fit. They are honest about this which is a good way to be in the whiskey world. Other companies (not going to mention any names) make efforts to hide the fact they source the raw product. I look at it this way, if you bottle a good whiskey, why do I give a shit you did not distill it yourself? Some people think the whisky has to be distilled by the company directly to be a whiskey. These people need to be reminded that building and operating a distillery takes tens of millions of dollars to start up. Even after the startup costs you spend years developing your whiskey before you sell it.

Jefferson Very Small Batch is not bad, not good, it is just a decent bourbon. It is fine to drink on the rocks or on in a cocktail. Since this is the week of vacations and BBQ’s a bottle of this bourbon is a good one at a good price to get shit faced to celebrate the birth of our Nation.

Price around $40 it is a decent bourbon. Happy 4^th of July and don’t drink and drive!

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon

February 8, 2024 America

Name: Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon

Color: Copper Brown

Nose: Sweet, caramel corn, toasted wood

Taste: Oak, vanilla, butterscotch, nutty roasted

Michter’s 10-year-old Single Barrel Bourbon Barrel No. 17B310 is an award winning release from Michter’s. The Single Barrel Bourbon won the “Best American Whiskey” by Food and Wine Magazine. I do not know what that means, but it sounds important.

I was in Kentucky recently and my friend bought a bottle for his son’s school charity auction. No one was bidding so he decided to get the auction going and ended up buying back the bottle he bought and donated, at double the cost. Lesson learned, keep your hand down. I enjoy several drinks from this bottle along with a cigar on his back deck in Kentucky. Somehow the bourbon always tastes better when I am sitting outdoors in Kentucky. I should probably stop giving life advice to his son’s after three drinks but why learn from an IPhone when you can learn from Uncle Chris?

There are two items of note on the bottle label. The barrel number and the statement: “Kentucky Straight Bourbon”. The number indicates from which barrel the whiskey sourced. The term “Kentucky Straight Bourbon” is only achieved by following a set of laws. These laws, in the simplest terms are (minus a few details);

Made in Kentucky
Mash of 51% corn grain
Not exceeding 80% abv
Aged minimum of 2 years

Overall, Michter’s produces very nice whiskeys and I have enjoyed all the expressions I have tried so far. I found this bourbon to be smooth, well balanced but not very complex. It reminded me of a better version of their American Whiskey. By no means does it make it bad, but it makes a bit of a stretch when it comes to the price.

Price around $120 its good but not $120 good. It is priced less in Kentucky (approx. $100).

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Basil Hayden Bourbon

January 4, 2024 America

Name: Basil Hayden Bourbon

Color: Gold Brown

Nose: Apricot, citrus, light vanilla

Taste: Light test of vanilla, oak and a touch of caramel.

This is a very popular Bourbon with a blend of corn, rye and malt barely which gives it a interesting taste but a light one. This Bourbon is a good one to have and I enjoy it on the rocks over mixing it with something due to its lightness. This makes for a good summer Friday drink on the rocks, in a cocktail, by the water or a at a roof top bar.

Price is very good as it ranges from $35-40 and the whisky works well in various combinations depending on how your like to drink your bourbon.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

WL Weller Special Reserve

November 16, 2023 America

Name: WL Weller Special Reserve

Color: Light brown

Nose: Vanilla, caramel, light oak

Taste: Sweet, vanilla, caramel

I got the opportunity to try WL Weller Special Reserve a couple of weeks ago when I was visiting Kentucky. After a good day of losing money at Keeneland Race track on the pony’s, it was time to relax with a drink. My friend channeled his Tom Cruise from the movie Cocktail and made me a “Southern Gentleman” with Weller. Prior to my cocktail I set myself up outside on the deck with a big cigar and enjoyed a dram neat as he made the drink.

The bourbon is good, but nothing mind blowing. Not sure how special this “Special Reserve” really is but it tastes good, however, it is not special. As usual, a little marketing on the bottle is needed by the distillery. Weller is affordable bourbon to keep on your bar if you need one for sipping or cocktails.

The receipt for the “Southern Gentleman” by Saint Matthew Barker (The Patron Saint of West Palm Beach, circa 1994-98):

Rocks glass & one large ice cube/ball
3-4 oz Weller
Splash of fresh Ice Tea
Splash of Pure Maple Syrup
Stir and serve over ice

The cocktail was very refreshing and helped with the 80F weather, which was a surprise for October in Kentucky. One other note, the deer in the background surprised me as I was taking the bottle picture. It just stared at me for a few minutes with the look of “what the fuck are you looking at?” and then ran off. I could have had venison for dinner.

Weller Special Reserve is a good example of a whiskey that does not have to be expensive to be good and drinkable. As I say, if you like it, drink it. You do not have to always spend big money on your whisky.

Price in NYC is around $50+ and in Kentucky is $19.99. (Note this review was posted in 2020, prices have increased)

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery

October 12, 2023 NYC

As the cooler weather approaches and the season begins to change the time spent outdoors becomes a priority for all New Yorkers. Pumpkin lattes and Oktoberfest beers are nice in the park, but what about something different? How about apple picking, food, and drinks in the fresh countryside air?

The Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery is a one-stop good time place. Located in only 50 miles away from NYC, you can enjoy locally made beer, wine, whiskey, live music, and food. It is located at 114 Little York Rd. Warwick, NY 10990

Upon arriving, there will be parking attendants to help you navigate the lot. Parking is $10 per car and you will park on grass/gravel and walk in.

Picking apples costs $35 per bag and you can pick many apples for that price. There is a tractor ride up to the orchard or you can take a short walk. The price may seem a bit high, but I have been eating the apples all week and they are delicious and better than what Whole Foods sells. The early season apples are fresh, juicy, and have the nice snap when you bite into them. I will be using a dozen Macintosh’s in an apple pie this weekend. The apple trees are not too tall so ladders are not needed but you might have to step into the tree branches to pick them. Also, you may need to navigate damp grass, dropped apples, and occasional deer shit in the orchard so I recommend hiking boots.

The Store & Cafe has tasting bar, dining area, and a gift shop. These areas are indoors but are small so they get crowded. Inside you can buy full bottles of wine, beer, and whiskey. The staff will open the bottles for you and provide glasses so you can enjoy your drinks indoors or outdoors. I did not see anyone with an open bottle of whisky, only wine and beer.

The outdoor Bar & Grille and Tasting Patio is where people spend most of the day. The patio is a stone deck with metal tables and chairs and there is a grassy area adjacent to the patio for lawn seating. I recommend you bring your chairs or blankets just in case you are unable to get a table. The band playing last weekend was good, a bit loud for my taste, but they set the fun easygoing tone for everyone to enjoy.

The Bar & Grille has a variety of food for almost everyone’s taste. They serve burgers, hot dogs, pizza, chili, flatbread, ice cream, soft drinks, etc. It is cash only and there are ATM’s on site. I enjoyed a small bowl of chili and chips before I went to the Tasting Patio.

The Tasting Patio has all the wines, beer, and spirits available for $20 for one sample of each. From memory, I sampled 6 wines, 5 spirits, and 2 ciders. There was more to sample, but I decided not to because I already enjoyed a glass of bourbon when I arrived. As with all tastings, I found things I liked and others that I did not like as much. You will have to judge for yourself.

The crowd that day was a nice mix of families, groups, younger, older, kids, bikers, different ethnicities, races, etc. I saw only smiles as everyone was having a good time. Some people in the Tasting Patio clearly skipped lunch so they were having a “really” good time sampling the drinks. At no time did I see anyone out of control or acting like an idiot.

An important item to note: There are no indoor bathrooms, only outdoor port a potties. Not my preferred type of restroom, but they were new, clean, had sinks with water and soap. There are also hand sanitizing stations.

A day at Warwick Winery & Distillery is a great way to spend time with friends and family. I highly recommend a visit and I look forward to going back in another month when the mid-season apples are ready!

If you like it, drink it!

Blade and Bow

August 31, 2023 America

Name: Blade and Bow

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Corn, cedar oak, spice rye

Taste: Corn, wood, vanilla, spices, sweet finish

Blade & Bow Bourbon is produced by Stitzel-Weller Distillery in Louisville, KY. The distillery was founded by Van Winkle, Farnsley, and Weller. These three have produced some well known bourbons in the last 100 years. Bottled at 45.5% abv and with one key attached neck which represents the five keys that were on the door of the distillery and five steps of production. The steps are; made in the USA, aged in new charred oak, 51% corn mash, cannot enter barrel higher than 125 proof, and nothing can be added except water.

Blade & Bow also uses the Solera Aging Method and is not cheap or time friendly in production. The barrels are filled from top down which creates a finished product that is a mix of aged whiskey in the various barrels. In the process the barrels are stacked and the barrels which the whiskey is bottled from bottom is never drained more than 50%. Since no container is ever drained, some of the earlier product remains in each container.

Blade & Bow is not a traditional “sweeter” bourbon like most in this price range. It has a bit of a rough edge and bite to it on the tongue with strong wood notes. If you add water or ice it will soften and the lighter cream and more of a expected taste profile will emerge. Personally, I find this profile more inline to my liking as I generally prefer Scotch over Bourbon, but I am half Scottish, so it is expected.

Blade & Bow reminded me a little of Blanton’s Bourbon in the sense of its different style. However, Blade is sweeter and a bit more complex than Blanton’s. It is also cheaper and easier to find on the market as of 2021.

Priced around $50 and worth the money if you like the flavor profile.

If you like it, drink it! – Christopher

If you like it, drink it!

Black Dirt Bourbon – Batch #011

Taconic Distillery

Taconic Dutchess Private Reserve – Christmas Edition

Larceny Bourbon

Jefferson “Very Small Batch” Bourbon

Michter’s 10 Year Single Barrel Bourbon

Basil Hayden Bourbon

WL Weller Special Reserve

Warwick Valley Winery & Distillery

Blade and Bow

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