America | NYC Whiskey Review

Discretion Single Barrel Select Whiskey

January 1, 2025 America, Japan

Name: Discretion Single Barrel Select Whiskey

Color: Brown

Nose: Corn/malt, oak, vanilla, cherry

Taste: Corn/malt, vanilla, spices, light oak

Discretion Single Barrel Select is produced by Tarnished Truth Distillery in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The distillery is located in the Cavalier Hotel in Virginia Beach and states that it is “the first and only distillery in a hotel in the United States…” . They have been in operation since 2013 and was founded by Andrew Yancey and Bruce Thompson.

My friend Sam brought this bottle to me to try and to be honest, I was not expecting much from this whiskey. I thought the name sounded goofy. It reminded me of Larceny or 10^th Mountain Man, but I ended up being very surprised. The balance was good, the flavors were nice, and at 60.3% abv I was surprised it all came together when I tasted it. The mash bill is 70% corn, 18% wheat, and 12% malted barley; however, the malt was more forward than the corn or wheat to my palate. It was smoother than I expected for the proof and I would have liked to try it in an Old Fashioned. If I am every in the Virginia Beach area, I will make it a point to stop by the Cavalier Hotel and order one.

Other expressions: Discretion, Discretion Bottle In-bond, Single Barrel, Tarnished Truth, High Rye Single Barrel, AVA Vodka, Moonshine, Old Cavalier, Fourth Handle Gin, and Old Cavalier Bourbon Cream.

Priced around $50 and a good whiskey. I look forward to trying more of their expressions.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

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!

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye

November 13, 2024 America

Name: Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye

Color: Copper

Nose: Rye, spices, wood, vanilla, orange

Taste: Rye, caramel, vanilla, oak, light spice

Jack Daniel’s has departed from their usual mash bill and classic Tennessee Whiskey flavor with their first rye whiskey and they went heavy on the rye. The Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye mash bill is 70% Rye, 18% Corn, and 12% Barley. It is aged in new charred oak, is non-aged stated, and bottled at 47% abv.

On my first taste of this whiskey, I enjoyed the flavor. On my second taste I got the class Jack on the backend, but the rye spice masked it well. I found this rye hard to nose and this is probably due to the high amount of rye in the mash. As anyone who reads my reviews or knows me I really dislike Jack Daniels. However, I must be fair and try them as they come my way. Overall, this expression was pretty good. Next time I try this one I will have it in an Old Fashioned to see how it tastes.

Priced around $50+ and not bad for a rye whiskey from Jack Daniel’s. I believe Frank Sinatra would have enjoyed this one!

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Taconic Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup

October 24, 2024 America

Name: Taconic Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup

Color: Brown

Nose: Maple, wood, caramel

Taste: Maple sugar, oak, light bourbon, caramel

Taconic Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup is the second item that came in the gift box that I received from Taconic Distillery. The syrup came with their Dutchess Private Reserve Bourbon which I reviewed last month and I am almost out off.

The maple syrup is sourced in New York (support local business!) and is matured in bourbon barrels. The syrup is medium bodied and not too thick or overly sweet. The bourbon flavor is hard to detect when cold but is there when the syrup gets to room temperature. I tasted it neat and then determined it would be better on my waffles. I think that it might be hard to taste any bourbon if there was fruit on my waffles or on pancakes. Note for the parents; the syrup does not taste like bourbon so your children can enjoy it too.

The bottle size is 375ml and you need to refrigerate it after opening. I recommend you take the syrup out of the refrigerator before you use it on your breakfast or in your Taconic Whiskey Sour.

Price around $40 for two bottles (online store price) and worth the money if you like maple syrup.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

George Remus Batch Rye

July 25, 2024 America

Name: George Remus Batch Rye

Color: Light Brown

Nose: Rye, spices, white pepper, orange

Taste: Rye spice, white pepper, orange, light wood

I sampled George Remus Batch Rye #002 whiskey not too long ago at my friends home in Northern Kentucky. For some reason Bourbon and Rye always taste better in Kentucky and Scotch tastes better in Scotland.It must be something in the air.

There is a lot of interesting history about George Remus but I will give you the short version. He was born in 1878 in Germany and immigrated to America as a child. He became a lawyer in Chicago and became a defender of arrested bootleggers. He did well for himself with his clients as found numerous loopholes in the Volstead Act. One loophole was to get liquor prescribed by doctors legally and the shipping it in his own fleet of trucks. Smart, eh? He the realized there was more money in booze than law so he move from Chicago to Cincinnati and became a bootlegger. He did so well finically that the book The Great Gatsby was rumored to be based on him. He died in 1952 in Covington, Kentucky.

Now, the whiskey….Remus Rye is good but very spicy. It is not a straight drinker, but the balance of flavors and spices is good for a cocktail. There is a flavor in the taste profile that I can not figure out. It has a coconut or oak wood thing going on. I hope my friend still has some when I get back to KY in the fall.

Priced around $50 and good for a rye cocktail.

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!

Stranahan’s Snowflake Whiskey (2021 edition)

July 11, 2024 America

Name: Stranahan’s Snowflake Whiskey (2021 edition)

Color: Copper

Nose: Light malt, dry sherry, dark fruits

Taste: Light malt, sweet sherry, mix of unique flavors

Stranahan’s Whiskey was founded in 2004 and it is located at 200 S. Kalamath St. Denver, CO. The distillery/visitor center is in an industrial park and has a simple outdoor seating area with a nice view of the mountains. The inside bar has a modern rustic wood design with seating for around 75 people. The bar serves whiskey, flights, cocktails, and the retail store sells bottles and merchandise. The staff is very friendly with that easy going Colorado vibe.

The Snowflake is very nice tasting, smooth, and well-balanced whiskey. It is almost too smooth as a whiskey like this can be finished by two people in one sitting. I have heard stories of people who sleep outside for a couple of days to be early in line to get a bottle. I find this a little bit too extreme, but to each their own.

From my research Snowflake is 100% malted barley, aged 4 to 8 years in new white American Oak barrels at a #3. It is then transferred to a variety of barrels for finishing. These barrels are listed as sherry, rum, tequila, cognac, and “others”. This finishing in multiple barrels is the reason I list it as a “mix of unique flavors”. I had a difficult time detecting trying to determine each one during tasting.

Other expressions produced: Original, Blue Peak, Mountain Angel 10 Year, Snowflake, Diamond Peak, Sherry Cask, Single Barrel, and other special releases. The whiskeys that really impressed me are the Snowflake, Sherry Cask, and Cask Strength.

Priced around $125 and is an excellent whiskey. Not sure if you can find this expression in the stores as a limited amount is produced each year.

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!

New Riff “Red Turkey Wheat” Bourbon

June 20, 2024 America

Name: New Riff “Red Turkey Wheat” Bourbon

Color: Copper

Nose: Corn, unique wheat, vanilla, caramel-orange

Taste: Toasted malted blend, caramel, vanilla, white fruits

New Riff Bourbon Single Barrel Bourbon is produced by the New Riff Distillery which is located in Newport, KY on the Ohio River adjacent to Cincinnati. New Riff was founded by Ken Lewis who used to own The Party Source next door in the same plaza. It is my understanding that you cannot produce and distribute whiskey in Kentucky so he sold the store to start the distillery.

On my last visit to Kentucky, I stopped by the bar to see if they had anything new. The bartender presented me the New Riff Red Turkey Wheat for a tasting. I was pleasantly surprised. The mash bill is 70% corn, 25% red turkey wheat, 5% malted barley, aged “at “least five years. It is a bottle and bonded, non-chilled filtered whiskey that is bottled at 50% abv. The Red turkey wheat uses heirloom seed that have been passed down over 50 years from crops and unlike modern seeds they are not a hybrid mix. This type of wheat creates a different flavor profile that I had not experience before and it is very enjoyable.

Red Turkey Wheat it is very good whiskey, well balanced, and can be drank neat. At 100 proof I would add some water or make a high-quality cocktail.

Priced around $50 and worth the money. Not sure if you are going to find it in the stores up in the NYC area as this is limited production run.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Heaven Hill 6-Year-Old Bourbon

May 30, 2024 America

Name: Heaven Hill 6-Year-Old Bourbon

Color: Copper

Nose: Corn, vanilla, wood

Taste: Corn, vanilla, caramel, wood

The Heaven Hill distillery was found in 1935 by a group of investors ready to take advantage of the upcoming open market after Prohibition ended in 1933. The distillery is in Louisville, Kentucky and produces a ridiculous amount of bourbon each year.

Heaven Hill 6-Year-Old Bourbon “Green Label” mash bill is 78% corn, 12% malted barley, and 10% rye. Aged in white oak barrels at char #3 and bottled at 45% abv. This is a basic bourbon from Kentucky and is nothing special or very interesting. It is drinkable and good for a mixer, but at $15 per bottle at 90 proof (sold in Kentucky only) it might be an alcoholics delight. My friend St. Matthew of Covington prefers to use this in his bourbon slushes and those things can really put you on your ass.

Other expressions: Bottle in Bond, Henry McKenna, Bernheim Original Wheat, Larceny, Rittenhouse Rye, Old Fitzgerald, Parker’s Heritage Collection, Pikesville Straight Rye, Elijah Craig, Evan Williams, and Mellow Corn.

Priced around $15 and decent drinker for the price if you need to buy a cheap bottle in Kentucky.

If you like it, drink it! – Chris

If you like it, drink it!

Discretion Single Barrel Select Whiskey

Black Dirt Bourbon – Batch #011

Jack Daniel’s Single Barrel Rye

Taconic Bourbon Barrel Aged Maple Syrup

George Remus Batch Rye

Larceny Bourbon

Stranahan’s Snowflake Whiskey (2021 edition)

Jefferson “Very Small Batch” Bourbon

New Riff “Red Turkey Wheat” Bourbon

Heaven Hill 6-Year-Old Bourbon

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