u/Archaeo-Frog

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

This blind features two uncut, unfiltered bourbons facing off against each other. Both come from Buffalo Trace, and both carry steep price tags in stores and on the secondary market. Where they primarily diverge is in bottling philosophy and mash bill.

Stagg (formerly Stagg Junior) is a blend of barrels built from low-rye Mash Bill #1, which is also used by stalwarts like Eagle Rare, E.H. Taylor, and George T. Stagg.

Blanton's Straight From the Barrel, on the other hand — which is the highest-proof entry in the Blanton's family — is a true single-barrel expression that comes from Mash Bill #2, the higher-rye recipe that also underlies fellow single barrel bourbons like Elmer T. Lee and Rock Hill Farms.

This blind also carries a bit of unfinished business with it: Stagg has always bothered me, as there’s a flavor note I can't quite put a name to that shows up and dominates the profile. I’ve even tried using Stagg as a mixer (I know, I know) in an effort to mask that taste, and it hasn’t worked. It's some kind of "funky" character, of the type some drinkers embrace and others (like me, apparently) find overwhelming and distasteful. What I still don't know is whether that note is baked into Stagg generally, whether it's tied to specific batches (I've picked it up on both 25B and 25D), or whether it's something that might fade into the background when paired with another whiskey, as I'm doing here.

That's where Blanton's Straight From the Barrel comes in. It's a good test case precisely because I already know that I enjoy it: SFTB earned an 8 in my stand-alone review, one of the higher scores I've given out.

So: does Stagg's "funk" note stay quiet when poured alongside Blanton’s? Or does it show up with a vengeance, potentially souring the whole pairing? Let's set up the blind and find out!

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ABOUT Stagg 25B

*From the Distillery: Stagg is a barrel-proof bourbon that’s uncut, unapologetic and aged in charred white oak barrels for eight years. Released without filtering or dilution, it offers a bold, full-strength experience for those who appreciate whiskey in its most powerful form.

*Mash bill: Buffalo Trace mash bill #1 (low rye)

*Age Statement: 8 Years

*Proof: 126.9

ABOUT Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel

*From the Distillery: Not just one of the world’s best bourbons – this Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon is Blanton’s at its purest and most powerful. Created for connoisseurs of cask-strength whiskey, Straight From The Barrel is uncut, unfiltered and bottled directly from the barrel. The high alcohol by volume is intense and powerful, yet inviting. Unfiltered, uncut, unbelievable.

*Mash bill: Buffalo Trace mash bill #2 (high rye)

*Age Statement: NAS

*Proof: 125.3

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REVIEW: For the purpose of this blind, both bourbons have been poured into glencairns and rested for approximately 15 minutes.

Appearance A: Rich, dark, orange-ish amber; thick and oily-looking.

Appearance B: Almost identical to A, except with a bit more orange in the hue.

Nose A: Ethanol first and foremost – so much that I’m having trouble getting past it to find other notes. Eventually I find what may be some cola and dark chocolate hiding behind the proof heat. There’s also a note that I don’t particularly care for, which smells sort of like sweaty socks.

Nose B: Also a big blast of ethanol, but as that fades I get caramel and some orange peel. After a bit more nosing I also get some classic Buffalo Trace cherry pie.

Palate A: Hot! Some of the flavors that hit right away are dark cherry and cola, along with vanilla and cinnamon. This part is nice. What’s not nice is another note, which I associate primarily with Stagg and which I just don’t like. It’s the one that I called “sweaty socks” on the nose.

Palate B: Nice and viscous, if also pretty astringent. Cherry is there, along with lots of caramel, oak, and orange zest, as well as a hint of cola, but they’re hiding behind quite a bit of proof heat! All in all, this is quite the concentrated “flavor bomb.” It frankly tastes like Blanton’s, but with a lot less water and a lot more flavor.

Finish A: Astringent and earthy, with some dark cherry and lots of spice (primarily cinnamon and clove).

Finish B: Pretty hot, but also lengthy and flavorful. Oak is the main feature here, along with lesser amounts of vanilla, citrus, and cinnamon.

Rating A: 6.3

Rating B: 8.3

Thoughts: This one is pretty easy to predict, and pretty easy to rank. Glass A had that singular note in every pour that I’ve now identified as smelling and tasting like gym socks. There’s no question in my mind, based on that note, that it’s the Stagg. That being said – and it may sound silly – A was actually pretty good other than that part. Glass B, on the other hand, drank the way high-proof fans say this type of bourbon should: it had concentrated flavors in spades, and was very enjoyable outside of its proof heat.

Prediction A: Stagg 25B

Prediction B: Blanton’s SFTB

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Actual A: Stagg 25B

Actual B: Blanton’s SFTB

More Thoughts: I really tried to give Stagg another chance here, but the “gym socks” note is such a turn-off. I’m still not certain what it actually is; perhaps an earthiness combined with cola and leather? Either way, it’s the reason this bottle rates so low for me, and it’s also the reason I almost never reach for it.

Blanton’s Straight from the Barrel, on the other hand, continues to not disappoint. It was viscous and had super-concentrated flavors that were really enjoyable, like drinking a high-proof Werther caramel candy with a cherry on top. I’m definitely going to keep reaching for this one when I’m in the mood for a high-proof “flavor bomb,” and I highly recommend it to anybody else who wants great flavor and doesn’t mind some proof in their whiskey!

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Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Elijah Craig Toasted (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Barrell Cigar Blend (6)
1792 BiB SiB (6)
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Stagg 25B (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Pursuit United DO (6.5)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
E.H. Taylor SiB (7.2)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.6)
Rock Hill Farms (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
Found North 012 (8)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Blanton’s SFTB (8.3)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 4 (8.5)
E.H. Taylor BTAC 2025 (8.7)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

Since 2006, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection has been made up of five ultra-premium whiskies: WIlliam Larue Weller, George T. Stagg, Eagle Rare 17, Sazerac 18, and Thomas H. Handy. That changed this past fall, when E.H. Taylor Bottled-in-Bond joined the lineup as the sixth BTAC release, marking the collection's 25th anniversary with its first genuine expansion since Thomas H. Handy came aboard 20 years ago.

On paper, it’s a fitting addition, as the Taylor name is one of Buffalo Trace’s biggest and most expansive. Like most EHT offerings, this expression is built on Buffalo Trace's low-rye Mash Bill #1 (the same one used for Eagle Rare and George T. Stagg) and bottled at exactly 100 proof by law thanks to its Bottled-in-Bond status. Unlike its peers, though, this Taylor is aged 15 years 4 months — the longest of any EHT except the elusive 18 Year Marriage expression.

That's a genuinely long rest for a BiB bourbon, especially since bonded whiskey seems to be skewing younger every day. Holding barrels this long means eating years of evaporation losses (in this case, 62% went to the angel’s share) and running a real risk of tipping into over-oaked, tannic territory before the whiskey ever makes it to the bottling line. Whether Buffalo Trace threaded that needle successfully, or whether this is just old bourbon that got lucky with a seriously high-priced label, is a question this bottle has to answer for itself.

Let's see if the newest member of the BTAC family really belongs in that company!

From the Distillery: E.H. Taylor Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon is the first new addition to the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection since Thomas H. Handy joined the portfolio in 2006. Aged 15 years and 4 months in the Distillery’s warehouses and hand-bottled at 100 proof to meet Bottled-In-Bond standards.

We have hand-selected our very best available barrels to produce the finest possible whiskey. This release pays tribute to Taylor’s pursuit of perfection and his pivotal role in passing The Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. That piece of legislation cemented Taylor’s reputation as the Father of Modern Bourbon and set in motion a quality standard for whiskey that was more rigorous and exacting than any standard set before or since.

The crystal-clear glass bottle we’ve chosen showcases the whiskey’s gorgeous amber color. The back label provides a full product description for you to read while enjoying a taste. Every bottle was hand-bottled and labeled to ensure the highest quality finish.

The nose opens with warm vanilla, seasoned oak, charred undertones, and a drizzle of maple sweetness. On the palate, balanced sweetness and baking spices mingle with gentle wood note. The lingering finish carries oak and vanilla into soft caramel with a hint of cherry.

Mash bill: Buffalo Trace mash bill #1 (low rye)

Filtration: Chill Filtered

Release Year: 2025

Age Statement: 15 Years, 4 Months

Proof: 100

Appearance: Deep amber; neither oily nor terribly viscous

Nose: Grape, cinnamon, allspice, and buttercream frosting all hit the nose at first. Behind this is a wave of cherry pie, the slightest hint of mint, and caramel vanilla. It’s a very nice, balanced, and nicely-aged smelling nose.

Palate: Not very oily or viscous, as expected, but also no proof burn whatsoever. The grape and cherry carry over along with some toasted sugar, while buttercream, cinnamon, and caramel really pop on the mid-palate. There’s also plenty of oakiness.

Finish: Medium-length with lots of oak. It’s neither overly tannic nor overly drying, though, and is quickly balanced out by other flavors. Some of the spices carry over, and are joined by caramel-vanilla and leather.

Thoughts: This pour was an absolute pleasure. I'm picking nits in a major way to find a complaint, but if I have to list one, it's the oakiness on the finish. It's not like that was bad, either; it was just — for a very short period of time — a little strong and the slightest bit sour. That was quickly balanced out by the sweet and spicy notes from the palate, leaving a very pleasant aftertaste. The rest of the experience was just outstanding, and not in a "this is only a bottle for special occasions" way; rather, this is a bottle that some friends and I could easily kill in one sitting (much to our wallets’ chagrin!). In my opinion, even up to three times MSRP this is worth at least considering for purchase, if not an auto-buy (depending on your personal budget, of course).

Rating: The latest addition to the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection is really, really good. It strikes me as being the slightest bit less sweet and more oaky than the Small Batch, as you’d expect from a bourbon’s more mature cousin, but it also drank like something that was greater than the sum of its parts. It would have been interesting to see how an uncut and unfiltered E.H. Taylor BTAC would have been, but what we have here is plenty enjoyable as it is. For me, it rates an 8.7: it really is Quite Exceptional.

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Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Elijah Craig Toasted (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Barrell Cigar Blend (6)
1792 BiB SiB (6)
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Stagg 25B (6.3)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Pursuit United DO (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
E.H. Taylor SiB (7.2)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (7.4)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.6)
Rock Hill Farms (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 4 (8.5)
E.H. Taylor BTAC (8.7)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

Two producers, one trick: take a bourbon that's already fully matured in a standard charred oak barrel, then dump it into a second barrel – this one toasted rather than charred – for a finishing period that’s meant to coax out sweeter, dessert-like oak notes without piling on more char bitterness. Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel does this with Heaven Hill's own Small Batch, bottled at an easygoing 94 proof and priced to be an everyday bottle. Penelope's Marshmallow Toast takes the same basic concept and cranks it up: sourced whiskey, aged 4 to 5 years, finished in a heavy Char 3 toast barrel, and bottled uncut at cask strength – 110 proof, no dilution.

So this isn't really "toasted vs. charred" — both of these are playing the same finishing game. It's a question of execution and intensity: does Penelope's higher proof and heavier toast actually deliver more complexity, or does Elijah Craig's gentler, cheaper expression have essentially the same effect? Let's blind them and find out!

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ABOUT Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel

*From the Distillery: Made to honor the innovative spirit of Elijah Craig, this twice-barreled expression takes our award-winning Small Batch Bourbon to new heights. After it’s fully matured, we finish it in a second, custom toasted barrel, where it picks up an added layer of sweet oak complexity. Charred to start. Toasted to finish. Toasted Barrel relies on a custom finishing process that adds an extra layer of sweet oak complexity to our Bourbon.

*Mash bill: 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye

*Age Statement: NAS

*Proof: 94

ABOUT Penelope Marshmallow Toast

*From the Producer: Our Toasted Series is a testament to the power of serendipity. When we began to explore toasted finishes, we weren’t expecting each barrel to be so different — so we decided to embrace this variety of chars and toasts that make every bottle in our Toasted Series truly one-of-a-kind. After full maturation in charred new American oak barrels, Penelope Bourbon is finished in a new, hand-toasted barrel. While it can be hard to predict the flavor profile of each bottle in our Toasted Series, the deep notes of vanilla imbued by the toasting process add another dimension to our signature flavor profile.

*Mash bill: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley

*Age Statement:

*Proof: 110

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REVIEW: For the purpose of this blind, both bourbons have been poured into glencairns and rested for approximately 15 minutes.

Appearance A: Dark amber; almost mahogany. Appears fairly viscous.

Appearance B: Slightly lighter amber but still darker than average, with a bit of orange tint. Seems less oily and viscous than A.

Nose A: Lots of leather and a bit of both vanilla and chocolate. Very sweet, with almost no spice on the nose at all. Once the glass is empty, it’s primarily young leather and grass.

Nose B: Slightly earthier and with more ethanol up front than on A. Oak is initially paired with mild scents of vanilla, cinnamon, and a touch of chocolate, after which before more of a marshmallow/creme brûlée-type note comes through. Once the glass is empty, the main remaining scent is mainly toasted marshmallow.

Palate A: The palate is similar to the nose, albeit with some burn on the front end. Vanilla and caramel stand out the most, with a bit of baking spice (primarily cinnamon and allspice) rounding out the flavors on the mid-palate.

Palate B: Thicker and velvetier mouthfeel than A, along with less ethanol than I expected given the nose. Lots of vanilla and a little caramel hit on the front of the palate, after which the caramel increases and some cinnamon, chocolate, and toasted marshmallow join the party.

Finish A: Some grassiness or youngish grain notes are the main features, followed by a decent amount of vanilla, barrel char, and allspice.

Finish B: Slightly astringent at first. The main notes are dark chocolate and marshmallow, along with some leather.

Rating A: 5.8

Rating B: 6.8

Thoughts: I enjoyed B more than I enjoyed A, for a couple reasons. First, there was more of a dessert-type profile to it (which was balanced nicely by the proof, thickness, and some slightly darker flavors). The second was because of something it lacked: the grassy note I always seem to pick up on with Elijah Craig bourbons. I don’t love that note: it’s why I rated A so much lower than B, despite other aspects of A being perfectly enjoyable, and it’s also why I’m guessing that A is ECTB and B is the Penelope.

Prediction A: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel

Prediction B: Penelope Marshmallow Toast

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Actual A: Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel

Actual B: Penelope Marshmallow Toast

More Thoughts: No surprise here, I guess: Penelope had the promised marshmallow flavor on both palate and finish, with a nicely toasted profile that wasn’t overwhelming at all. I think that this is a nice dessert-ish bourbon which is sweet but not cloying, and I’d be interested to see how it stands up in a blind to something like Woodford Reserve Double Oaked. I’d also like to try it in a chocolate Old Fashioned!

As to the Elijah Craig: this brand continues to disappoint me a bit. As I noted above, there’s a green-grassy note I get on their bourbons that really doesn’t speak to me. It’s sort of like the funk you get in a wheated bourbon, but less mature and developed than that. It’s also unexpected, given that this isn’t a wheater. Whether that note results from their lack of age or from all that barley in the mash bill, it’s been a consistent note for me across their expressions, from Barrel Proof to this Toasted offering.

Ultimately, I won’t be reaching for the ECTB very often in the future, but I probably will be checking out this Penelope offering a bit more often, even if only at dessert time, as it was surprisingly good overall!

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Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Elijah Craig Toasted (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Barrell Cigar Blend (6)
1792 BiB SiB (6)
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Stagg 25B (6.3)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Pursuit United DO (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
E.H. Taylor SiB (7.2)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (7.4)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.6)
Rock Hill Farms (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 4 (8.5)
E.H. Taylor BTAC (8.7)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

Most bourbons get their identity from a master distiller's palate or from a family recipe passed down through generations. This addition to the famed Weller Rainbow, on the other hand, got its identity from … a spreadsheet.

As most of you already know, in 2015 Buffalo Trace turned the question of "what makes a perfect bourbon" over to the internet, building an online survey that let more than 100,000 consumers vote on elements like mash bill, warehouse placement, age, and proof. The results, according to the distillery, converged on a wheated recipe that was aged for 8 years near the top of the rickhouse and bottled at 95 proof. What came out the other side was is a bottle carrying the same wheated DNA as the rest of the Weller lineup that is so relentlessly chased on the secondary market — but built by committee, rather than by craft.

As a result, evaluating this bourbon requires considering more than just its nose, palate, and finish. It’s also a question of whether crowdsourcing a bourbon recipe actually produces something that’s worth the hunt and the sometimes-insane price tag (I’ve seen it in stores for up to $500!), or whether that process just gets you the most inoffensive whiskey possible, ultimately pleasing nobody in an effort to please everybody.

I’ve never tried C.Y.P.B. before, so I’m curious to dive in and see what the answers to those questions might be!

From the Distillery: Born from a “Craft Your Perfect Bourbon” consumer survey, this 95-proof expression reflects what bourbon lovers asked for: a wheated recipe, aged on the highest warehouse floors and bottled at an approachable strength.

Age: 8 years

Mash Bill: Buffalo Trace Mash Bill #3 (Wheated)

Proof: 95

Price: $69.99 at MSRP; insane in stores and at secondary

Appearance: Nice amber color that largely matches the rest of the Weller lineup. Medium-ish thickness, and not very oily (no surprise, as this whiskey is chill filtered).

Nose: Very light. There’s more to it than there is to, say, Weller Special Reserve, but it’s definitely not knocking you over with scents here (either in strength or in notes). I’m mostly getting orange, along with some leather, vanilla, graham cracker, and a touch of grape. Once the glass is empty, leather is the primary remaining note.

Palate: Also very light, in terms of both mouthfeel and flavors. No proof burn at all, as you’d expect given the fact that it clocks in at just 95º. I’m getting some leathery oak right off the bat, along with some wheat. The citrus also carries over from the nose, and is joined by a classic Buffalo Trace note of cherry pie filling.

Finish: Not overly long, but not nonexistent either. I primarily get wheat, some slightly drying oak, and vanilla, with the oak lingering the longest. Once that sour-ish flavor starts to fade, there’s a remnant of orange zest, a touch of tobacco, and some nice leather.

Thoughts: Perhaps the best name for this would have been “Craft Your Perfectly Good Bourbon.” I found it to be perfectly enjoyable, both in terms of proof and of flavors, but what I didn’t find it to be was remarkable in any way. It lacked the flavor of other Wellers like Antique 107 and Full Proof, while its asking price is well above what I’ve seen those for.

In other words, Weller’s Craft Your Perfect Bourbon expression wasn’t Perfect by any means. That isn’t to say that it isn’t good – frankly, it was plenty good — but when you have a bourbon with the word “Perfect” in its name (which goes for $300-$500 at stores and on secondary!), you want more than that. A lot more, in fact. This, unfortunately, didn’t deliver on that promise.

Rating: This clocks in at a 7.2 for me: I’ll give it an “Above Average,” but as I said, the claim of Perfection – plus the secondary/store price – militates against “above average” being good enough here. I do recommend it at MSRP, but there’s no reason to go crazy hunting or overpaying for this whiskey.

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Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Stagg 25B (5.3)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Elijah Craig Toasted (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
1792 BiB SiB (6)
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Pursuit United DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
E.H. Taylor SiB (7.2)
Weller CYPB (7.2)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (7.4)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.6)
Rock Hill Farms (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 4 (8.5)
E.H. Taylor BTAC (8.7)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

Here we have two independent bottlers with very different philosophies for turning sourced rye into something distinctive.

Copper & Cask's Boston Rum Party takes an 8-year rye and finishes it in rum casks for over a year — a limited, 2,000-bottle release tied to America's 250th anniversary, bottled at a hefty 120.2 proof, aiming for cinnamon spice softened by rum-cask sweetness.

Sagamore's approach is entirely different: their 9-year Single Barrel program takes one barrel of high-rye and blends it with low-rye juice, letting Maryland-style blending — not a secondary cask — do the work of shaping the final profile, landing in this case at 110 proof.

Same general age, same rye-whiskey foundation, but two competing theories on how to make sourced rye stand out: dress it up with an outside cask, or lean into a house blending technique. Poured blind, let's see which philosophy comes out on top!

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ABOUT Sagamore 9-Year Single Barrel Rye

*From the Producer: It’s all about the barrel. The Sagamore Barrel Select Program is a unique 9-year-old Maryland-Style straight rye whiskey. This whiskey is crafted using a single barrel of high-rye whiskey that is expertly blended with a low-rye whiskey mash bill by our distilling team. No two expressions taste the same and you are guaranteed to enjoy a one-of-a-kind product. In a copy-paste world, our Barrel Select Program offers independence and individuality. Find your flavor and share its spirit.

*Mash bill: Combination of 95% rye/5% malted barley and 51% rye/43% corn/4% malted barley (MGP)

*Age Statement: 9 Years

*Proof: 110

ABOUT Copper & Cask 8-year ‘Boston Rum Party’ Rye

*From the Distillery: This rye is a blend of two rye lots -- one aged for 8 years and the other for 10 years. Both have a mash bill of 95% rye, 5% malted barley. The whiskey was finished in rum barrels for over a year. For this release, we wanted to find rum barrels that would complement the bold, spicy character of our rye with a sweeter, softer tone. The result is a bold yet approachable whiskey that is full of flavor with plenty of cinnamon spice and just the perfect amount of rum influence.

*Mash bill: 95% rye, 5% malted barley (MGP)

*Age Statement: 8 years (blend of 8 and 10 year whiskeys)

*Proof: 120.2

*******************

REVIEW: For the purpose of this blind, both bourbons have been poured into glencairns and rested for approximately 15 minutes.

Appearance A: Light, coppery amber. Not terribly oily, and the legs are pretty runny.

Appearance B: Nice dark honey color. Seems a touch more viscous, with better legs on the glass.

Nose A: Grape, vanilla, and confectioners sugar. A touch of rye and some sweet cherry, like pie filling.

Nose B: Deeper, darker, and stronger than A. More oak along with caramel and créme brûlée. Some grape and cherry also eventually rise to the surface.

Palate A: Medium mouthfeel. Rye spice hits right away, along with some grape, cardboard, and proof heat. On the mid-palate, there’s some citrus – like orange peel – along with a little mint.

Palate B: The first thing I notice here is astringency. After a couple sips, a few flavors start peeking out, including some rye breadiness and maybe a touch of caramel, but it’s really hard to get past all that ethanol, both at the front and on the mid-palate.

Finish A: Relatively short. Rye spice, citrus, and mint to start, although strong dill and sour oak notes quickly take over and remain front and center through the aftertaste.

Finish B: Short and sharp. After more ethanol burn, what’s left is mostly mint and dill, with just a touch of that breadiness from the palate.

Rating A: 6.3

Rating B: 5.3

Thoughts: Surprisingly, these two ryes weren’t all that close to each other. A clearly had more flavor from nose to finish (although the finish was its weakest part), while B – after a nice nose – took me on a journey through an ethanol forest, with little to offer aside from significant astringency.

While I would have put money on the Sagamore being the better of the two before this blind started, my guesses as to which is which are going in a different direction. I’m going out on a limb here, though, because historically I’ve really enjoyed Sagamore and haven’t been as big a fan of this (or any) C&C expression. The primary reasons for this are that the appearance and nose of B remind me of previous encounters with the Sagamore, while those same elements of A remind me more of the Copper & Cask.

Prediction A: Copper & Cask

Prediction B: Sagamore Single Barrel

****************

Actual A: Copper & Cask

Actual B: Sagamore Single Barrel

More Thoughts: I’m very disappointed in the Sagamore. Previously it was among my favorite ryes, with a 7.4 rating. The Copper & Cask ‘Boston Rum Party,’ on the other hand, was in the 6s along with the rest of C&C’s expressions, all of which have tended to drink hot (to me), and none of which have typically struck me as being masterpieces of blending. While neither the Sagamore nor the Copper & Cask was truly excellent here, the latter was still superior by a pretty wide margin.

Surprisingly, almost all I got from the Sagamore was ethanol, despite going back for sip after sip in hopes of picking up some of the notes that I so enjoyed when I drank it on its own (and when I blinded it against the Willett 4-year –– a blind which the Sagamore absolutely dominated). Eventually, I’ll go back to the Sagamore on its own once again to see what happened and whether I still really enjoy it as much as I thought I did, but for today, Copper & Cask wins going away.

I do wonder whether the experience would have been different had their order been reversed, but that’s how blinds go – you don’t get to pick the order!

********************
Previous Ratings

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Stagg 25B (5.3)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
1792 BiB SiB (5.5)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6.3)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Pursuit United DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6.5)
Elijah Craig Toasted (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
E.H. Taylor SiB (7.2)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (7.4)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.6)
Rock Hill Farms (7.6)
Weller Full Proof (7.6)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 4 (8.5)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

I’m generally a fan of toasted bourbons – particularly the sweet, vanilla-forward flavor they usually feature. I’ve reviewed a couple here already (Penelope Marshmallow Toast and Peerless Toasted), and now it’s time to try out Elijah Craig’s Toasted Barrel bourbon.

As you probably know, this expression takes the brand's Small Batch — already matured in the traditional #3 char — and dumps it back into a second barrel for a finishing period. That second barrel isn't charred, but toasted, a process meant to bring out sweet, dark-sugar oak notes without piling on more of the harsh char flavor a standard barrel could add. It's Heaven Hill's answer to the finished-whiskey trend that's shown up all over the category, from Woodford Double Oaked to Michter's Toasted Barrel Finish, and at 94 proof and a genuinely reasonable price point, it's positioned as an easy, affordable way to see what a second, gentler barrel actually does to an already-good bourbon.

The question, then, is whether that second trip through the barrel adds real complexity, or if it layers on sweetness without much underneath it. Let's find out!

From the Distillery: Made to honor the innovative spirit of Elijah Craig, this twice-barreled expression takes our award-winning Small Batch Bourbon to new heights. After it’s fully matured, we finish it in a second, custom toasted barrel, where it picks up an added layer of sweet oak complexity.

Charred to start. Toasted to finish. Toasted Barrel relies on a custom finishing process that adds an extra layer of sweet oak complexity to our Bourbon.

Tasting notes: Lots of toasted oak with rich caramel. Big, rich, and complex. Delightful spice and pepper notes fade to milk chocolate with just a hint of smoke. Nicely warming, with lingering chocolate and baking spices.

Proof: 94

Mash bill: 78% Corn, 12% Malted Barley, 10% Rye

Age Statement: NAS

Price: $54.99

Appearance: Nice deep amber; not terribly oily or viscous-looking. The legs on the glass are pretty runny.

Nose: Lots and lots of vanilla, along with plenty of toasted (young-smelling) oak. Also some cherry pie notes, maybe a little graham cracker, and not much else.

Palate: Once again, loads of vanilla, as well as a hint of chocolate. There’s also an almost grassy, youngish-grain note (which I also picked up on ECBP C925), along with sweet cherry that carries over from the nose. There’s not a lot of complexity here: those flavors fade primarily into oak on the mid-palate, and that stays with you through the finish.

Finish: The faintest hint of red fruit is there, as well as a touch of remaining vanilla, but like I said above the oak from the mid-palate stays with you through the finish. It’s not too sour, but it’s also not a sweet oakiness by any means. On the aftertaste, a bit more of the fruit, vanilla, and chocolate find their way to the surface, but the youngish grain and oak are still the main remaining flavors.

Thoughts: This had some highs and lows. I really like vanilla and sweetness, and it provided some of that, but there were also elements that frankly seemed underdone. The grassy/young-grain note that I picked up on the palate reminds me a bit of the C925 barrel proof that I reviewed before, which definitely needed more aging. This too seems like it could have done with more seasoning in the barrel.

All in all, I think this was a perfectly fine toasted bourbon, but it wasn’t a world-beater by any means. Perhaps a blind against Peerless’s toasted expression will help solidify my thoughts about this, so look for that review before too long. In the meantime, I have to say that this is a bourbon that I’ll be offering to others who like low-proof toasted more than it is one that I’ll be reaching or myself, at least with any frequency.

Rating: Elijah Craig Toasted Bourbon was fine, but it wasn’t as good as I’d hoped. I give it a 6.5 rating, between “Very Good” and “Great,” thanks to that young, green flavor that sticks with you throughout the sip. That’s a perfectly respectable rating, but I wish it could have been higher.

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Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Stagg 25B (5.3)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
1792 BiB SiB (5.5)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Pursuit United DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6.5)
Elijah Craig Toasted (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
E.H. Taylor SiB (7.2)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (7.4)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
Weller Full Proof (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.6)
Rock Hill Farms (7.6)
Buffalo Trace LEP Wheat 15yr (7.6)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 4 (8.5)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

Right off the bat, I need to make a confession: as I’ve noted at least once before, I have a problem with the small batch/single barrel concept. Conventional wisdom tends to hold that single barrels are superior to small batches of the same whiskey. Logically speaking, though, it seems to me that the opposite should be true, because the blending involved in the small batch gives the distillery the opportunity to ensure that every bottle is on the intended profile, every time. Single barrels, to me, are a risk precisely because they don’t afford that safety net. Now, in theory that risk wouldn’t matter, since the barrels selected for the Single Barrel expression are presumably chosen specifically because they’re exemplars of the intended profile (in which case my logical concern wouldn’t necessarily apply). However, I remain skeptical, and am looking forward to testing both theories in this blind.

In essence, then, this competition is less about picking a winner and more about testing the theory itself: does single-barrel expression actually produce something more distinctive and enjoyable than a well-blended batch, or are Buffalo Trace's blenders good enough that the difference barely shows? Poured blind, side by side, let's find out which philosophy actually wins the glass!

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ABOUT E.H. Taylor Small Batch

*From the Distillery: Handcrafted in small batches and aged in the century-old warehouses built by Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr., this bourbon reflects his unwavering pursuit of perfection. Each barrel is carefully selected and blended to create a whiskey of exceptional balance, depth, and character. A true sipping bourbon, it honors the uncompromising legacy of E.H. Taylor, Jr.

*Mash Bill: Buffalo Trace mash bill #1 (low rye)

*Age Statement: NAS

*Proof: 100

ABOUT E.H. Taylor Single Barrel

*From the Distillery: Aged in the historic Warehouse C, built by Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. in 1885 and renowned for its exceptional aging conditions, each barrel is carefully chosen for its individual character and depth. Bottled in Bond at 100 proof, this bourbon reflects Taylor’s uncompromising standards and timeless craftsmanship, offering a one-of-a-kind expression worthy of his name.

*Mash Bill: Buffalo Trace mash bill #1 (low rye)

*Age Statement: NAS

*Proof: 100

***************

REVIEW: For the purpose of this blind, both bourbons have been poured into glencairns and rested for approximately 15 minutes.

Appearance A: Nice caramel shade of amber; not terribly oily

Appearance B: Perhaps a slightly lighter shade of amber, but it’s tough to tell; they could honestly be exactly the same

Nose A: Deep, rich caramel and confectioners sugar, with some underlying oak. Very nice and balanced.

Nose B: Starts off with a huge whiff of medicinal grape. Under that is some caramel, vanilla, oak and perhaps a bit of cherry pie.

Palate A: Caramel, vanilla, and cinnamon; fairly sweet, but not cloying. The sugariness from the nose is present but in the background, where it presents more like buttercream. A touch of ethanol accompanies a nice medium mouthfeel. Not overly complex by any means, but what’s there is enjoyable.

Palate B: The grape hits right away, in combination with confectioners sugar and some oak. There’s a bit more bite than there was in A, and more baking spice on the tongue – particularly cinnamon and allspice.

Finish A: Starts off with some sour oakiness and develops into a combiation of leather and subtle caramel-vanilla.

Finish B: Similarly to A, the main flavors are oak, leather, and – deep in the background – some subtle sweetness.

Rating A: 7.6

Rating B: 7.2

Thoughts: Both were good, so the breakdown that follows shouldn’t be taken as declaring either to be a bad pour. That being said, one of these was clearly better to me. A had deeper flavor and was more complex than B. Its darker caramel, combined with some vanilla and oak (and its lack of medicinal fruit) also made it more enjoyable. The finish was a bit sour at first, but it improved over time (this was the case with both pours). B, on the other hand, featured fruit notes that were almost sickeningly sweet. It reminded me of how Eagle Rare came across when I blinded it against E.H. Taylor Small Batch: in the context of those two pours, its grape and cherry notes seemed to be turned up to 11, especially on the nose. B was similar in its presentation here, except that the medicinal quality — which isn’t my favorite — also carried over to the palate.

I honestly don’t know which is which here. The common sentiment seems to be that E.H. Taylor Single Barrel is superior to the Small Batch. However, A seemed to me to fit with what I’ve come to expect from the Small Batch expression, whereas B struck me as being a bit off-profile for E.H. Taylor overall. Because of this, I’m going to go out on a limb and predict that the superior one is the Small Batch, and the slightly more medicinal and less on-profile one is the Single Barrel.

Prediction A: E.H. Taylor Small Batch

Prediction B: E.H. Taylor Single Barrel

********************

Actual A: E.H. Taylor Small Batch

Actual B: E.H. Taylor Single Barrel

More Thoughts: Well, I guess that’s the risk you take with single barrels! As I noted above, the Small Batch was perfectly on-profile with what I’ve come to expect from E.H. Taylor, whereas the Single Barrel didn’t really line up with that. I’m fortunate enough to have a backup Single Barrel bottle, so at some point I’ll have to crack it and see if the result here is because of an off-profile barrel, or if Buffalo Trace actually intends for E.H. Taylor’s flavor to be more in line with this specific expression.

Going in, I laid out my case for why blending could win out over single barrels: consistency breeds consistently good whiskey. However, I would not have been at all surprised had the conventional wisdom proven me wrong, given the way that single barrel expressions are specifically hand-picked for limited releases. Instead, the Small Batch came out ahead, earning a 7.6 to the Single Barrel's 7.2. The gap isn't massive, but it was still clear. The Single Barrel leaned into too far into medicinal notes, as the grape and cherry in the pour took on a cough-syrup-adjacent quality rather than reading as ripe or jammy. It wasn't a bad whiskey by any means, but it read as a narrower, more one-note pour. E.H. Taylor Small Batch, by contrast, was the more complete experience: more well-rounded, more complex, and with a deeper flavor profile that gave you more to chase across the glass rather than one dominant impression.

If there's a lesson here, I guess it’s the one I hypothesized going in: that blending isn't just a consistency play, it's also a complexity play. A well-built small batch bourbon can layer flavors from multiple barrels in a way that a single barrel – however carefully selected – might not be able to replicate on its own. That having been said, this was a sample size of exactly one barrel against one batch. It certainly doesn't prove single barrels are inferior across the board; it just means this barrel didn't do what the marketing around single-barrel bourbon promises, as (for me at least) the Small Batch expression was preferable to the juice that came from this particular single barrel.

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Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Stagg 25B (5.3)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
1792 BiB SiB (5.5)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Pursuit United DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
E.H. Taylor SiB (7.2)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (7.4)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.6)
Rock Hill Farms (7.6)
Buffalo Trace LEP Wheat 15yr (7.6)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 4 (8.5)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

Blanton's built its reputation in part as the bourbon that arguably started the single-barrel boom, and in part as one the best-looking bottles around. Blanton's Gold exists as its slightly-higher-proof, slightly-harder-to-find sibling — same single-barrel program, just turned up a notch and gilded for the export/allocation market.

As most of you already know, both of these come from Buffalo Trace's Warehouse H. The main difference is proof: Blanton's Single Barrel is bottled at 93°, while the Gold expression clocks in ten points higher, at 103°. The other main difference is price — Gold typically runs two to three times what regular Blanton's SiB goes for. The other other main difference, of course, is the color of the all-important horsey stopper.

The obvious question, then, is whether that bump from 93 to 103 proof actually changes the whiskey in a meaningful way, or whether "Gold" is doing more work as a marketing tier than as a flavor difference.

I’ve done stand-alone reviews of both of these bourbons (Regular Blanton’s | Blanton’s Gold). In the latter, I concluded that Blanton’s Gold was noticeably better than Blanton’s SiB, but that it wasn’t worth its exorbitant price tag. However, I do try to leave value and availability out of my numeric ratings.

Let’s pour a blind and see how different they really are, and how they actually rate!

ABOUT Blanton’s Single Barrel

*From the Distillery: This bourbon made history as the first ever bottled from a single barrel, and it still carries that sense of discovery today. Once shared by Colonel Blanton only with a close circle of ambassadors and friends, Blanton’s Original is now here for anyone curious to experience a bolder side of bourbon. Discover the bourbon that set a new standard.

*Mash bill: Buffalo Trace mash bill #2 (high rye)

*Rick: 27

*Barrel: 302

Bottle: 206

*Dumped On: 6-10-2025

*Proof: 93

*Price: MSRP $69.99

ABOUT Blanton’s Gold

*From the Distillery: Crafted for those who seek something rare, Blanton’s Gold Edition builds on the legacy of the world’s first single barrel bourbon with even greater intensity. Originally created for discerning international markets, this expression offers a higher proof and a deeper, spicier complexity that rewards the adventurous palate. A bold evolution of a bourbon icon. We believe this is the finest bottle of whiskey ever produced, affording you extra flavor, bouquet and character.

*Mash bill: Buffalo Trace mash bill #2 (high rye)

*Rick: 20

*Barrel: 805

*Bottle: 204

*Dumped On: 4-1-2025

*Proof: 103

*Price: $149.99 (but stores near me regularly ask $300 for it)

***************

REVIEW: For the purpose of this blind, both bourbons have been poured into glencairns and rested for approximately 15 minutes. Also, for those who are interested, both bottles have stoppers that feature the letter “N.”

Appearance A: Light amber with an orange-ish hue. Appears fairly watery.

Appearance B: Ever-so-slightly lighter shade of amber. Also appears to have pretty low viscosity; like A, it doesn’t coat the glass in any meaningful way.

Nose A: Right away I get that classic Buffalo Trace grape, which is balanced out somewhat by caramel and leather. There’s the slightest touch of ethanol, as well, along with lighter notes of cherry pie, graham cracker, and vanilla, along with a touch of cinnamon. Once the glass is empty, it’s all leather with the slightest hint of caramel.

Nose B: Much lighter on the nose, with whiffs of grape and cherry doing most of the heavy lifting. There may be a touch of oak in there as well, but not much else. I really have to make an effort to get much of a nose at all, in fact. Once the glass is empty, the nose is the same as A, but toned down just a bit.

Palate A: A touch of rye spice complements caramel, vanilla, and leather. There’s a bit of ethanol, as well. Little if any of the fruit carries over from the nose to the palate. There’s neither a ton of complexity nor a significant number of tasting notes, but what is there is perfectly pleasant.

Palate B: A little ethanol and more than a little grape and cherry, both of which have a bit of a medicinal quality. The same caramel and vanilla that I tasted in A (albeit slightly weaker) are also there.

Finish A: Relatively short with very little heat; mostly baking spices (cinnamon and allspice) along with some sour-ish oak, which eventually fades into a more enjoyable leather flavor.

Finish B: Also relatively short and with even less heat. While spice (rye and allspice) are the chief flavors, some oak eventually rises to the surface as well.

Rating A: 6.3

Rating B: 5.5

Thoughts: Neither of these was a world-beater. A had slightly more flavor, and seemed to have slightly more proof, which suggests to me that it’s the 103º Gold edition (and, therefore, that B is the standard single-barrel offering). There wasn’t a whole lot of flavor present in either, and the sweetness that I appreciate from most Buffalo Trace products also seemed to be missing from both of these pours. They certainly don’t stand up in enjoyability to Rock Hill Farms, their 100-proof mash bill #2 counterpart (although I’ll probably blind Blanton’s Gold against RHF in the future just to be sure).

Ultimately, I found both of these to be fairly middling whiskies, which I could take or leave. A was the better of the two, but that’s honestly not saying all that much. Perhaps Blanton’s really is all hat and no cattle, as my Texas friends would say.

Prediction A: Blanton’s Gold

Prediction B: Blanton’s Single Barrel

****************

Actual A: Blanton’s Gold

Actual B: Blanton’s Single Barrel

More Thoughts: Well, I guess that was predictable – that Blanton’s Gold was the better of the two, anyway. I was a bit surprised that neither stood out as being particularly good, though. Ultimately, while these bottles are inarguably nice to look at, there are just too many examples of better juice out there to waste too much time and money chasing these (especially the three-times-as-expensive Gold expression!).

********************
Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Stagg 25B (5.3)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
1792 BiB SiB (5.5)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.3)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Pursuit United DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
E.H. Taylor SiB (7.2)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (7.4)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.6)
Rock Hill Farms (7.6)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
E.H. Taylor BTAC 2025 (8)
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 2025 (8.5)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

I’m a fan of E.H. Taylor Small Batch, but have yet to try the label’s Single Barrel expression. I’ll admit up front, though, that the idea that single barrels make for superior bottles is still not one I’m totally sold on, as it seems to me that a blend of barrels would yield a more consistent (and therefore more consistently good) product.

I do understand that single barrels are specially selected for their profile, and that this means they can stand apart as superior examples of a given expression. However, it stands to reason that they could also do the opposite, right?

Let’s see which way this E.H. Taylor Single Barrel swings, then, shall we?

From the Distillery: Aged in the historic Warehouse C, built by Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. in 1885 and renowned for its exceptional aging conditions, each barrel is carefully chosen for its individual character and depth. Bottled in Bond at 100 proof, this bourbon reflects Taylor’s uncompromising standards and timeless craftsmanship, offering a one-of-a-kind expression worthy of his name.

Tasting notes: 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 palate for another sip.

Age: NAS (at least 4 years)

Proof: 100

Mash bill: Buffalo Trace mash bill #1 (low rye)

Price: Often 2-3 times that of the Small Batch

Appearance: Dark amber and semi-viscous with pretty decent legs on the glass.

Nose: Right away is a blast of grape and oak. Retuning to the glass, I also get butterscotch and some light cola, as well as bright red fruit. Once the glass is empty, very strong and very pleasant scents of butterscotch, confectionary sugar, and leather remain.

Palate: Semi-viscous mouthfeel. The grape and red fruit carry over somewhat from the nose, along with caramel, baking spices like clove and allspice, and a sweet note like confectionary sugar or buttercream frosting. There’s also a classic cherry cobbler flavor with toasted crust on the mid-palate, but as the sip moves to the rear of the palate it’s accompanied by a bit of an ethanol burn that’s surprising for the proof point. Between that and the spice, this isn’t quite as sweet and gentle as I expected, particularly based on the nose.

Finish: Medium length and oak-forward without much else flavor-wise, at least at first. After a bit, the smallest amount of caramel and leather float toward the surface, but there’s really no sweetness to speak of here at all.

Thoughts: I’ve been looking forward to trying an E.H. Taylor Single Barrel for some time now, at very least to see what all the fuss is about. Now that I’ve had it, I don’t think it’s head and shoulders above the Small Batch expression, which is both lighter and sweeter than this Single Barrel was. Not only was the palate not as sweet as I expected, especially based on the nose, but the finish was all oak and spice with very little sweetness at all.

I can’t say that I’m disappointed in this pour, but I also can’t honestly say that I’m wowed by it. Overall, this barrel was good but not great. I’m looking forward to trying another SiB at some point in the future to see if a different barrel might be superior to this one. I’m also planning to blind this against E.H. Taylor Small Batch to see how my impressions here stack up when the two expressions are set up to compete face to face, sans label.

Rating: The Colonel E.H. Taylor Single Barrel expression was plenty good but, to me, it fell short of excellent. With the caveat that this is a single barrel (obviously), and therefore that there could be better ones out there, I have to give it a 7.2 on the modified T8ke scale (slightly closer to “Very Good” than to “Great”), which is close to a half-point lower than EHT Small Batch earned from me previously. Ultimately, this single barrel was a plenty good pour, but it didn’t strike me as being superior to the small batch — let alone worth the store/secondary markup prices.

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Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Stagg 25B (5.3)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
1792 BiB SiB (5.5)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Pursuit United DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
E.H. Taylor SiB (7.2)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (7.4)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.6)
Rock Hill Farms (7.6)
Buffalo Trace LEP Wheat 15yr (7.6)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
E.H. Taylor BTAC 2025 (8)
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 2025 (8.5)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

Here we have two standard Buffalo Trace offerings that share one mash bill. Eagle Rare 10 carries a 10-year age statement and sits at 90 proof. EH Taylor Small Batch is bottled in bond — at least 4 years old, 100 proof, no age statement. Same distillery, same low-rye MB #1, two different philosophies on getting bourbon into the bottle.

Both are allocated, both tend to vanish quickly from store shelves, and both have fans arguing over which one’s more worth the hunt (and the often-inflated price). Let’s remove the labels, pour them side by side, and see how each holds up on its own!

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ABOUT Eagle Rare 10 Year

*From the Distillery: Eagle Rare Aged 10 Years is a highly awarded expression aged for a full decade to achieve remarkable depth and balance. Crafted in small batches, it reflects patience, tradition and the artistry of American whiskey-making.

*Mash bill: Buffalo Trace mash bill #1 (low rye)

*Age Statement: 10 Years

*Proof: 90

ABOUT E.H. Taylor Small Batch

*From the Distillery: Handcrafted in small batches and aged in the century-old warehouses built by Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr., this bourbon reflects his unwavering pursuit of perfection. Each barrel is carefully selected and blended to create a whiskey of exceptional balance, depth, and character. A true sipping bourbon, it honors the uncompromising legacy of E.H. Taylor, Jr.

*Mash Bill: Buffalo Trace mash bill #1 (low rye)

*Age Statement: NAS

*Proof: 100

*******************

REVIEW: For the purpose of this blind, both bourbons have been poured into glencairns and rested for approximately 15 minutes.

Appearance A: Relatively dark amber and mildly viscous

Appearance B: A slightly lighter shade of amber, with what appears to be slightly less viscosity based on the legs.

Nose A: Initially it’s pure grape and cherry pie, both of which are classic Buffalo Trace notes (especially in bourbons that use mash bill #1). There’s also a strong blast of what may be confectioners sugar or buttercream frosting along with the slightest hint of bubble gum. These strong flavors seem to be drowning out any other notes that are there, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing, as I do enjoy a sweet whiskey! Behind these may be a touch of oak, but it’s difficult to be sure because of the repeated waves of sweetness coming off the glass.

Nose B: Slightly less sweet and definitely more complex. I’m still getting grape and cherry (again, these are both BT mash bill #1 expressions!), but they’re nowhere near as dominant and other components are also present. The most prominent of these are caramel, vanilla, and oak. There’s also some of the bubble gum that I smelled in glass A, along with a little bit of what comes across as graham cracker crust.

Palate A: Sweet with just a touch of spice. The fruity notes from the nose are present, but the overall combination isn’t as saccharine as it seemed when I was just smelling it. I can pick up more flavors here, including oak, cigar wrapper, and some sugary pie crust. There’s also the standard caramel and vanilla, which complement the rest of the flavors nicely.

Palate B: Still less sweet than A, without any spice or proof burn, and with a slightly more viscous and coating mouthfeel. The main flavors here are made up of a combination of caramel, vanilla, tobacco, and some oak. They make a very nice combination.

Finish A: A good bit of oak, some ethanol, and a small bit of baking spice (specifically cinnamon and allspice, along with perhaps a touch of nutmeg). The sourness of the oak lasts for a bit, before being supplanted by a combination of caramel and leather.

Finish B: Medium-length and nice, without as much sourness as there was at the beginning of A’s finish. While it begins with some oak and cinnamon front and center, over time these remaining flavors fade away until I’m left with a combination of tobacco and subtle caramel.

Rating A: 7.4

Rating B: 7.6

Thoughts: Both of these were enjoyable in their own way! The nose on B was better than that on A, not just because it was more complex, but because the notes that were most prominent there formed a more coherent and enjoyable whole. This was especially pronounced when I went back to A after nosing B for a while: the medicinal quality of both the grape and the cherry really jumped out then, and not in the best way (it was almost like smelling a child’s cough syrup). However, A’s palate was more balanced than its nose – it was still sweet, but some oak and other flavors joined the party to make for a less medicinal and more coherent sip. B, on the other hand, was slightly darker and more robust, with a touch less sweetness and a touch more complexity. While the flavors were different, though, I didn’t really have a preference between the two there. B’s finish was slightly better because it lacked the sour oak note that A briefly featured, but ultimately both were fine in that area, as well.

Prediction A: Eagle Rare 10 Year

Prediction B: E.H. Taylor Small Batch

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Actual A: Eagle Rare 10 Year

Actual B: E.H. Taylor Small Batch

More Thoughts: I figured that this is what each of them was based in part on B’s slightly bolder and more viscous presentation on the palate, which suggested a higher proof (even though it’s a younger bourbon than its competitor here). I really enjoy both Eagle Rare and E.H. Taylor, and nothing happened here that would really change that. They’re both sweet – Eagle Rare moreso, of course – and they have classic Buffalo Trace bourbon profiles. Just from a proof perspective, I’ll probably blind Eagle Rare against a fellow 90-proofer like Elmer T. Lee at some point in the future, and put E.H. Taylor up against fellow 100-proofer Rock Hill Farms just to see how they fare. That would also be a fun battle of the mash bills (#1 vs. #2), so look for that before too long. In the meantime, this has been a fun competition between bourbon cousins, and I’m pretty happy with how it turned out!

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Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Stagg 25B (5.3)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
1792 BiB SiB (5.5)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Pursuit United DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (7.4)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.6)
Rock Hill Farms (7.6)
Buffalo Trace LEP Wheat 15yr (7.6)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
E.H. Taylor BTAC 2025 (8)
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 2025 (8.5)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

I’ve been really fortunate to have had the chance to try a pretty fair amount of Buffalo Trace’s various lineups, but this one will be a first. I’ve only rarely even run into bottles of Rock Hill Farms on my various travels, and most of those have been so overpriced as to be insulting. (Up to $400 for a non-age-stated, 100-proof mash bill #2 product? Really?).

I honestly don’t know much about this one, and there’s precious little information about it on Sazerac’s own websites. At most (as seen below) that which is available focuses as much on the land that this whiskey is named after, as it does on the whiskey itself.

Given that mystique – both the lack of information and the general lack of availability – I’m very curious to try this out and see how it is!

From the Distillery: Named for a stretch of rich farmland along the Kentucky River, Rock Hill Farms is a fine single barrel bourbon. The limestone waters of the Kentucky River that wind through Bluegrass country and alongside Buffalo Trace Distillery nourish the land and provide the distinct flavor to Rock Hill Farms.

Mash bill: Buffalo Trace mash bill #2 (high rye)

Age Statement: NAS

Price: Whatever you can find it for (I’ve seen at auction for $250+ and at stores for up to $400, which needless to say is insane)

Proof: 100

Appearance: Lovely caramel, with surprisingly thick legs on the glass

Nose: Lots and lots of Buffalo Trace grape, along with caramel, vanilla, cherry, and some bubble gum. Leather and confectioner’s sugar, as well. Overall it has a very sweet nose. Once the glass is empty, a nice thick combination of caramel and leather remains.

Palate: Thicker and velvetier mouthfeel than expected. Some rye spice and ethanol hit right away, followed by a good amount of oak. These balance out the sweeter notes from the nose, which are also there: grape, caramel, and bubble gum primarily, along with what may be some red apple. There’s also cherry, which I strangely can’t decide whether to describe more as medicinal or as cola-like.

Finish: A little rye and a lot of oak, with subtle notes of grape, medicinal cherry, and vanilla also thrown in for good measure, along with a slightly plasticky note that I’ve found in some other Buffalo Trace products (most egregiously in the Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat expression). Most of these flavors fade away after a bit, leaving a pleasant aftertaste of caramel, vanilla, leather, and a little grape.

Thoughts: I really liked this bourbon (although I did not get anywhere near $400 worth of enjoyment out of it)! Rather, to me it’s more like a nice counterpart to E.H. Taylor small batch, in that it’s an approachable 100-proof easy-sipper that represents its respective mash bill very well.

The profile was less saccharine than the nose led me to expect, which isn’t a bad thing despite the fact that I’m a fan of sweeter expressions, as it made for a more balanced pour that doesn’t just have to be relegated to after dinner or other more dessert-y times. Frankly, it’s just a really nice sipper, and one that I’d probably enjoy day in and day out. It reminded me a bit of Blanton’s (which is probably unsurprising given the shared mash bill), but in a markedly better way, and made me think that I should probably blind this against either the regular expression or Blanton’s Gold, which at 103º instead of the standard 93º is closer to Rock Hill Farms in proof point. I think RHF would stand up very well in that competition, probably coming out somewhere between a half-point and a full point ahead. We’ll have to see!

Rating: Rock Hill Farms was a really nice pour, offering a combination of flavor and proof point that comes across better than some of Buffalo Trace’s other mash bill #2 offerings (like the chronically overpriced Elmer T. Lee and Blanton’s SiB). I really liked it, and wish that it had both pricing and distribution that better suited its enjoyability. Leaving those elements out of my numeric rating (as usual) leaves it with a score of 7.6: it’s slightly closer to “Excellent – Really Quite Exceptional” than it is to “Great – Well Above Average.” If you can find it, and if the price tag isn’t insane, then I definitely recommend it.

********************
Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Stagg 25B (5.3)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
1792 BiB SiB (5.5)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Pursuit United DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
Eagle Rare 10yr (7)
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Rock Hill Farms (7.6)
Buffalo Trace LEP Wheat 15yr (7.6)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
E.H. Taylor BTAC 2025 (8)
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 2025 (8.5)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

It’s time for a battle of honey whiskeys! I’ve reviewed both of these individually before {Bees Knees | Green River}, but this is the first time either has been part of a blind.

Bees Knees V is a double-oaked, toasted, honey-cask-finished bourbon from Shortbarrel, an NDP based in Chamblee, GA (this single-barrel offering is a store pick from McFarland 400 in Alpharetta). Green River’s entrant in this contest is actually not a honey-finished bourbon at all, despite its label and distiller’s notes claiming that’s what it is. Rather, it appears to be a honey-flavored whiskey, as honey was added to the barrel rather than the whiskey simply being finished in honey casks (as is the case with Shortbarrel).

Either way, we have two honey-toned whiskeys here, and it’s time to see how they stack up!

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ABOUT Shortbarrel Bees Knees V

*From the Producer: Bees Knees isn’t just a finished bourbon—it’s a system. Every release is built with a single idea in mind: honey should reflect where the whiskey is going. Instead of sourcing one universal honey and scaling it across the country, we take the opposite approach. Each state release uses locally sourced honey from that region, creating a version of Bees Knees that’s tied directly to place. Florida tastes different than Georgia. Georgia tastes different than Tennessee. And that’s exactly the point.

Most honey-finished bourbons aim for consistency. We don’t. Honey is one of the most terroir-driven ingredients in the world—its flavor is shaped by local flowers, climate, and seasonality. By sourcing honey from each state we release in, we’re not just finishing bourbon—we’re capturing a regional flavor profile inside the bottle.

Honey dominates the nose, and it won’t fade away. Deep notes of caramel, apples, pepper, and honey candies linger in the background. Mouth: Oh sweet honey, buttery popcorn, cinnamon spice, a “bit o honey” candy-like feel that keeps going, coating your mouth with a honey roasted cashew. Finish: Bring on the proof. The long, thick, rich, creamy, honey finish remains. The proof lets you know it’s there and wants you to come back for more without overpowering the vanilla, honey, and oak that permeate from the barrel-aging.

*Distillation: Kentucky and Indiana

*Age Statement: 6 Years

*Proof: 107

*Price: $100

ABOUT Green River Honey-Finished Bourbon

*From the Distillery: Green River Honey is the no-compromise-on-flavor-or-real-ingredient-honey-finished-bourbon. We start with REAL 4-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon and then add REAL locally sourced honey directly into the barrel. Then we let time do what it does best. That’s it. No shortcuts. No substitutes. No nonsense. Just bourbon…finished right.

Honey-finished, not honey-flavored. It’s the honey-finished bourbon you never knew you needed. While many honey-flavored products are vague about their ingredients, we’re an open book. 100% real local honey, 4-year-old Kentucky straight bourbon, and time. No artificial sweeteners or flavoring additives.

Other honey-flavored products are vague about their ingredients, like how much real honey they’re using versus artificial flavoring. Green River Honey is an open book. 100% real local honey and 4-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon. No artificial sweeteners or flavoring additives. We get our honey from Above the Dirt Garden and Honey Shop — a beekeeper-owned, Kentucky Proud™ business. It’s 100% real honey. Raw, unfiltered, and sourced from family-run apiaries across the Midwest and South. No middlemen, no mystery sourcing.

*Mashbill: 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley

*Age Statement: 4 years

*Proof: 92

*Price: $25

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REVIEW: For the purpose of this blind, both bourbons have been poured into glencairns and rested for approximately 15 minutes.

Appearance A: Rich amber and fairly oily, with thick, persistent legs on the glass

Appearance B: A slightly deeper shade of amber. Maybe a touch thicker, but if so it doesn’t really show in the legs on the glass.

Nose A: It smells like honey and bourbon! There’s some oak, vanilla, and caramel, but there’s also a significant amount of honey involved, as well. It doesn’t dominate the nose so much as it integrates itself into each individual scent, coloring the overall experience with its distinctive aroma.

Nose B: Even more honey! This one has a touch of ethanol on the nose, but other than that the main scents are honey, honey, oak, and honey. It’s not very complex – there’s just the slightest whiff of caramel and vanilla – but if you like honey, it definitely delivers.

Palate A: Fairly creamy with a bit of ethanol bite. There’s not quite as much honey as the nose led me to expect, and not a lot of complexity either. A bit of cherry and graham cracker peek out just a bit, but they never come to the forefront. Instead, some mild honey and oak are the main features of the palate.

Palate B: Astringent. My guess is that this is the higher-proof whiskey of the two. Fairly creamy mouthfeel, as well, along with a good bit of spice (probably rye). Altogether it gives the impression of a “hot honey,” which seems appropriate for a bourbon that probably has a high-rye mashbill.

Finish A: The honey is back! It’s joined by some sour oak and a bit of leather, but once again honey is the dominant flavor, which gives those sour elements of the finish a bit of balance.

Finish B: Honey and spice, once again. The lasting impression here is one of hot honey and slightly sour oak.

Rating A: 6.5

Rating B: 6.8

Thoughts: These were both pretty good, but neither was a world-beater. Honey was definitely front and center for both, although B had the stronger honey notes on both nose and palate. A was thinner in flavor if not in mouthfeel, and while B was more astringent, it also had a more complementary set of flavors, with the rye spice kicking in and making the honey flavor more interesting and complex. Overall, B was the better pour, although (as I said above) neither was bad.

Prediction A: Green River Honey-Finished Bourbon

Prediction B: Shortbarrel Bees Knees V Single Barrel

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Actual A: Green River Honey-Finished Bourbon

Actual B: Shortbarrel Bees Knees V Single Barrel

More Thoughts: These whiskies are not far enough apart in flavor or quality to justify one being four times the cost of the other. At $25, the Green River Honey Bourbon is a buy all day long, whereas the $110 Shortbarrel Bees Knees V may be out of your comfort zone price-wise. While I’m rating Shortbarrel’s offering slightly higher than Green River’s, in value terms the order is the exact opposite. Either way, if honey whiskey is your thing, you can’t go wrong with either of these from a honey-flavor perspective, but if you’re looking for a little more kick and complexity, you might prefer the Shortbarrel expression to Green River.

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Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Stagg 25B (5.3)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
1792 BiB SiB (5.5)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Pursuit United DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6.5)
Green River Honey (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (6.8)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
Eagle Rare 10yr (7)
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Buffalo Trace LEP Wheat 15yr (7.6)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
E.H. Taylor BTAC 2025 (8)
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute 2025 (8.5)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

You know what could be fun? Blinding my two current favorite rye whiskies!

At first glance it might seem like it would be an unfair fight to put up a Buffalo Trace Antique Collection expression against a sourced whiskey that was produced by a little-known NDP from Dallas, Texas. However, I’ve been so pleasantly surprised by Lasso Motel’s Single Barrel Cask Strength Rye Whiskey that I think it’s worth having a blind comparison between the two. That’s saying something, given that the 2025 Handy still holds the highest rating I’ve ever given out (an 8.7 on the modified T8ke scale)!

This “10 year” Lasso Motel SBBP rye, a store pick from OG McFarland in Alpharetta, Georgia, is actually 13 years old. The Thomas H. Handy, on the other hand, is a veritable spring chicken at just over 6 years. I’ve really been enjoying both of them, and am very curious to see how they stack up to each other. Let’s get to it!

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ABOUT Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye (2025)

*From the Distillery: Named after the New Orleans bartender who first crafted the Sazerac with rye whiskey, this uncut and unfiltered Straight Rye is bottled straight from the barrel, just as it was over a century ago. Bursting with rich, complex flavors, it reflects the timeless history of New Orleans and the enduring legacy of Thomas H. Handy.

Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Straight Rye Whiskey was first launched in response to a consumer request for more well-aged and barrel strength whiskey. This year’s offering is comprised of barrels aged for over 6 years. We filled these barrels at 125 proof in 2018 and after years of aging the whiskey is now, remarkably, 129.8 proof.

The crystal-clear glass bottle chosen for Thomas H. Handy Sazerac is designed to showcase the whiskey’s dark, rich color. The back label provides a full product story and description. Every case was hand-bottled and labeled to ensure the highest quality finish.

*Mashbill: Undisclosed

*Proof: 129.8

*Price: $150 MSRP; $400-600 secondary

*Age Statement: 6 years, 3 months

* Filtration: Non-chill filtered

ABOUT Lasso Motel Single Barrel Cask Strength Rye

*From the Producer: Lasso Motel Whiskey is a tribute to a time when artists and icons gathered to fuel their journeys—an experience of freedom and authenticity you’ll taste in each glass. If it tasted any better, you’d think it was a setup. Lasso Motel’s Single Barrel Cask Strength Rye is a straight shot from barrel to bottle. You can’t rush perfection, which is why this uncut and unfiltered whiskey is aged 10 years. The nose is woody, warm, and sweet with spicy apple, dark fruit, and cinnamon. The tasting notes open with a pepper rye spice that mellows out through a cinnamon sweetness and char.

* Mashbill: 95% Rye, 5% Malted Barley (MGP)

* Barreled: 10/19/2012

* Proof: 136

* Price: $89.99

* Age Statement: At least 10 Years (this one is actually a 13-year)

* Filtration: Non-chill filtered

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REVIEW: For the purpose of this blind, both whiskies have been poured into glencairns and rested for approximately 15 minutes.

Appearance A: Very dark, reddish amber. Oily with very nice legs.

Appearance B: Even darker – almost mahogany – and appears to be slightly more viscous.

Nose A: Rye spice meets apricot, wood, vanilla, and toffee. A nice cherry pie scent, with crispy sugared crust, comes next. This is a very nice nose, and it’s light for the proof. Once the glass is empty, that cherry pie note remains.

Nose B: Much darker and heavier. Plum and raisin, with a touch of mint, as well as blackberry cobbler and leather. Also a very enjoyable nose! Once the glass is empty, it’s all dark fruit and leather.

Palate A: Oily and viscous. Loads of rye spice, as you’d expect. There’s a bit of proof burn, but this drinks like a sub-120º rye. It’s light, sweet, and very enjoyable, with a combination of honey, leather, caramel, and vanilla joining some stonefruit that’s reminiscent of the apricot from the nose. There are also some herbal notes, including mint and dill.

Palate B: Even thicker and velvetier, once again with darker and heavier flavors. Along with rye spice and plenty of proof burn, it boasts a combination of raisin, Luxardo cherry, and graham cracker, along with some crystallized brown sugar and molasses.

Finish A: Lengthy. Fairly sweet and fruity, with plenty of rye as well as the flavor of oak tannins and some dill to go along with sweet, smooth caramel-vanilla. The aftertaste is mostly leather, with some rye and caramel also still present.

Finish B: Also lengthy and mostly nice. There’s some oaky bitterness, but it’s partially offset by a continuation of the dark fruit and molasses from the palate. As the finish continues to settle, though, the aftertaste contains a flavor that’s strangely plasticky or glue-like, and not really all that pleasant.

Rating A: 8.7

Rating B: 8.4

Thoughts: These ryes provide a study in contrasts. A is light and sweet, with some candy flavors that lead to a long, fruity finish. B, on the other hand, features dark fruits and high viscosity that combine to create very dark and heavy pour. Both had very nice noses and palates, although once again they were very different from each other. I enjoyed both profiles immensely, and the only factor that leads me to rate them differently is the finish – I enjoyed A’s lighter, sweeter finish more than I did B’s darker and more bitter one. All in all, though, both of these are absolutely excellent whiskies.

Prediction A: Thomas H. Handy Sazerac

Prediction B: Lasso Motel Cask Strength

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Actual A: Thomas H. Handy Sazerac

Actual B: Lasso Motel Cask Strength

More Thoughts: So, the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection whiskey just edged out an MGP rye that costs about half its MSRP and less than a quarter of its secondary price. I’d say that means that both are winners here! That’s honestly the result for me: while the Handy remains the highest-rated whiskey I’ve reviewed to date, the Lasso Motel is almost at its level quality-wise, and is definitely superior from a price perspective. I tend to prefer the lighter and sweeter profile that the Handy offers, but the darker and heavier Lasso Motel is incredibly enjoyable in its own right.

My only knock on the Lasso is its finish, which goes on forever but which also features flavors – especially in the aftertaste – that are not the most pleasant. This obviously isn’t to say that Lasso’s finish ruins this pour, as I still rated it squarely between “Excellent” and “Incredible”; rather, it was the main thing that knocked Lasso’s score down below that of the Handy. All in all, this was a heck of a performance by the Dallas-based producer. They nailed the formula for MGP’s 95/5 rye (perhaps 13 years in the barrel was the key?), and really came up with an amazing rye whiskey – so amazing, in fact, that it came with 0.3 of a BTAC whiskey in my ratings.

The Handy remains my favorite whiskey to date, but I’d absolutely call that win for Lasso Motel, as well. Frankly, in my opinion, if you can get your hands on either (or both!) of these ryes, you simply can’t go wrong.

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Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Stagg 25B (5.3)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
1792 BiB SiB (5.5)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Pursuit United DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (7)
Green River Honey (7)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7)
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Buffalo Trace LEP Wheat 15yr (7.6)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
E.H. Taylor BTAC 2025 (8)
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.4)
Mister Sam Tribute Batch 4 (8.5)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

It’s time to review a seriously heavy hitter. While much of the wider world may not have heard of Mister Sam Tribute Whiskey, I’m sure that many r/bourbon members are familiar with this ultra-premium Sazerac release.

For those that aren’t, this whiskey honors Seagram’s Samuel “Mister Sam” Bronfman (1889-1971), who famously said, “Distilling is a science; blending is an art.” Mister Sam Tribute Whiskey was created by Sazerac’s Master Blender, Drew Mayville, who previously spent more than two decades at Seagram’s.

Mayville reportedly has access to anything and everything that Sazerac has to offer, both in Canada and in America, to make this blend. Of course, true to Sazerac’s way of doing business, we have no idea what he used in this edition or in any other; we just get to taste the result and try to guess what went into it.

The good news, based on reviews of prior years (and based on the price!), is that the results seem to be pretty amazing. I’m looking forward to trying it for the first time here!

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From the Distillery: Mister Sam: Titan of the Modern Day Distilled Spirits Industry. Mister Sam Tribute Whiskey, named in honor of Samuel Bronfman, is a highly-limited blend of Sazerac’s finest Canadian and American whiskeys.

The mighty Sam Bronfman, Seagram’s first master blender, revolutionized the art of blending as he built his Seagram Company into a massive spirits empire. Our Master Blender, Drew Mayville, comes from this Seagram master blender lineage. Before he came to Sazerac, Mayville was the last master blender at Seagram’s and his mentor was Seagram Master Blender Art Dawe, who worked directly with Sam Bronfman. Mayville created this perfect blend through experimentation and precision and it is fittingly bottled at our Old Montreal Distillery in Montreal, Quebec.

Age Statement: NAS, but rumored to include whiskeys that are up to 18-20 years old

Proof: 131.08

Appearance: Dark mahogany and appears at least moderately viscous, with legs that cling to the glass.

Nose: Dark fruit – blackberry and plum – along with both confectionery and brown sugars, gingerbread, and tobacco. There’s also what seems like a very Canadian combination of floral, spice, and maple notes (this part is reminiscent of the recent Found North blend).

In fact, there’s so much here it’s almost like smelling a different whiskey every time I return to the glass. Buttercream frosting. Orange peel. Leather. Pencil shavings. Cherry cobbler. Lots of oak, as well, along with some marshmallow, butterscotch, vanilla, and maybe some other citrus, as well as myriad other notes that I can’t quite separate and identify yet. Once the glass is empty, blackberry, oak, leather, and vanilla are most of what remains.

Palate: There’s some proof heat right off the bat, as you’d expect for a 131º pour, as well as lots of spice. In addition to plenty of oak, there’s a berry flavor accompanying the proof heat that reminds me of William Larue Weller (which may well be a part of this blend; who knows?). There’s also a very nice Dr. Pepper/Cherry Coke note that goes along with some watermelon and vanilla as well as a more generalized sweetness.

This in turn is followed by a further infusion of rye spice, which is accompanied by enough herbal notes that I’d bet there’s at least one rye whiskey involved here, as well, although it’s obviously not clear specifically which rye that might be (although it’s obviously not a part of the blend, this component really reminds me of Lasso Motel’s outstanding SBBP rye, with its dark and complex flavor profile).

It doesn’t end there, though: the mid-palate rewards you with a caramel/toffee flavor that’s paired with vanilla, leather, chocolate, tobacco, and dark fruit, before transitioning at the rear of the palate to more oak along with some leather and spices.

Finish: Very long. Starts out spicy, and drying, and fairly sour, but not overly hot, which is both surprising and nice given its proof point. Some jammy fruits appear there as well, along with chocolate, tobacco, and a deep, dark vanilla-caramel note, all of which are accompanied by plenty of aged oak.

Thoughts: Mister Sam is unlike any whiskey I’ve ever tried before. The closest I can think of is Found North, which creates its own complex blends and whose latest release (#012) I really enjoyed. However, this also seems significantly more complex than that (I’ll have to blind them soon to be sure).

This is such an incredibly complex blend, in fact, that it’s like drinking several different whiskeys at once, and it will definitely reward multiple pours (and significant time spent with each!). The tasting notes above only capture a fraction of this, to the point that it’ll probably deserve a re-review at some point once I’ve had a chance to try this a few more times.

Needless to say, the combination of flavors is masterfully blended. Despite some saccharine notes, including your caramels and vanillas, this clearly isn’t just a bourbon, and despite some significant rye spice and herbal notes it doesn’t just drink like a rye. There’s also very clearly some Canadian whisky thrown into the mix, which makes the blend even more difficult to parse. It almost defies definition, at least at this point – there’s just too much going on here to boil down into anything resembling a simple description.

I also tried it proofed down a bit, which seemed to accentuate the Canadian elements of the whiskey. In other words, at lower proof, it drank even more like a Found North blend than a Buffalo Trace or Barton’s product. The floral and vegetal notes were still very much there, while the bourbonesque vanillas, caramels, and leathers became much more difficult to find.

Though it may seem strange, the strong presence of Canadian whiskies is part of what is keeping me from rating this somewhere in the 9s, as it’s a profile that I like but don’t love as much as as I do classic bourbon traits. That’s not to say that this wasn’t really, really good, of course!

While some folks who’ve tried more than one of these have claimed that this is the weakest of the four Mister Sam releases, I can only speak for myself and for this 2025 expression. For me, this is definitely a favorite right off the bat, and I’m looking forward to having the opportunity to spend more time with it at some point in the future.

Rating: The fourth release of Mister Sam “Tribute” whiskey is really remarkable. It easily earns an 8.5 on the modified T8ke scale (between “Excellent — Really Quite Exceptional” and “Incredible — An All-Time Favorite”). If you can find this whiskey — a bottle, a pour, whatever — at anything resembling a decent price (recognizing the subjectivity of that condition!), I highly* *recommend that you take advantage of that opportunity. You’re unlikely to regret that choice.

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Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Stagg 25B (5.3)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
1792 BiB SiB (5.5)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Pursuit United DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (7)
Green River Honey (7)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7)
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Buffalo Trace LEP Wheat 15yr (7.6)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
E.H. Taylor BTAC 2025 (8)
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.1)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Mister Sam Tribute 2025 (8.5)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

OOPS! I mis-titled this post — the Penelope is an Estate Collection SiB, not an Omega!

{You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

It’s blend vs. single barrel time! Both of these bourbons seem to have been well-received by most folks, and I’m curious to see how they stack up against each other. I’ve reviewed each of them individually in the past (Copper & Cask 16 | Penelope 10yr). While I rated them very differently at the time (6 vs. 7.5), I still think it would be interesting to see how they compare in a blind, especially now that the Copper & Cask has had a few more months to open up. Let’s get right to it, shall we?

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ABOUT Copper & Cask Batch 16

*From the Producer: Small Batch Series 16 is an 11-year Straight Bourbon, crafted from 24 high-rye Bourbon (60/36/4) barrels. The barrels were matured in Indiana, and then were brought up to Copper & Cask Rhode Island where they were hand-selected and blended. The whiskey is bottled at cask strength.

*Price: $84.99 MSRP

*Mash bill: MGP high-rye (60% corn, 36% rye, 4% malted barley)

*Blend: 24 barrels

*Age Statement: 11 years

*Proof: 116.2

ABOUT Penelope Estate Collection 10-Year Single Barrel

*From the Producer: This isn’t just a release. It’s a defining moment. The Estate Collection returns, pushing craft, creativity, and quality to bold new heights. Each expression is shaped by time, elevated by mastery, and driven by the courage to go beyond convention. This is ambition, aged and bottled. Crafted to inspire. Built to bring people together.

Penelope Single Barrel uncovers the character that lies within our finest aged stocks. Each barrel, unique in profile, is hand selected from various warehouses and floors after a decade of aging. Some barrels are just too exceptional to blend.

*Price: $100

*Mash bill: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley

*Barrel Number: PEN26-223

*Age Statement: 10 Years

*Proof: 108

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REVIEW: For the purpose of this blind, both bourbons have been poured into glencairns and rested for approximately 15 minutes.

Appearance A: Dark-hued amber with very nice legs on the glass.

Appearance B: Caramel-colored and a little less viscous than A, but still with decent legs.

Nose A: Dark fruit, brown sugar, and rye spice up front. Deeper in, there’s also some maple and vanilla to go along with different baking spices (primarily clove and allspice here).

Nose B: Lighter and sweeter, with caramel and vanilla up front, followed by confectioner’s sugar, bright cherry, and something like cream cheese frosting. I think I know what this one is based on those last couple notes!

Palate A: Spicy with some proof heat! The mouthfeel is nice and oily, although it’s also a bit astringent. The main flavors I’m getting are oak and spice – rye, cinnamon, and clove – along with a combination of some cola, brown sugar, and dark fruit like raisin or prune.

Palate B: Also a bit astringent. Lighter and sweeter than A, but with a slightly thicker mouthfeel. Spice hits harder than I expected based on the nose (which didn’t really present with any spice at all!), and there’s also some oak and leather involved. After that initial kick, though, a nice brown butter note takes over, which goes very well with the creamy texture. Additional notes include graham cracker crust, as well as caramel and vanilla.

Finish A: Lots of spice and a little extra heat. There’s also some gentle sweetness, like a mix of pure cane and brown sugars, along with a vanilla note and more of that allspice. The aftertaste is made up of relatively bitter tannins and leather.

Finish B: A touch of spice, but primarily oak. Very little proof heat here or on the palate. The aftertaste is a little less bitter: it still has plenty of tannins and leather, but there’s also some nice caramel and vanilla involved.

Rating A: 6.3

Rating B: 7.5

Thoughts: These were both good pours, but B was definitely the better of the two. It was lighter and sweeter with slightly less proof heat, and it also had a velvetier mouthfeel and less-bitter finish. A, on the other hand, lacked some of the elements that made B so enjoyable. Overall it was darker, less sweet, more astringent, and had more of a sour/bitter finish. I realize that this sounds like I’m saying A wasn’t enjoyable, but that’s not the case – I rated it between “Very Good” and “Great,” after all. It’s just that the positives of B outweigh those of A to a significant enough degree that they’re over a point apart in my rating (I put B halfway between “Great” and “Excellent”).

Prediction A: Copper & Cask 16

Prediction B: Penelope Estate 10yr

********************

Actual A: Copper & Cask 16

Actual B: Penelope Estate 10yr

More Thoughts: Well, I figured this would be the case. As soon as I picked up the cheesecake note on B’s nose, I was pretty certain that was the Penelope. That’s not a note I’m accustomed to getting on any bourbon, but I did get it when I tried and reviewed the Penelope on its own a few weeks ago, and it’s a pretty distinctive one to say the least.

I’m also not surprised that A was Copper & Cask because all of those that I’ve tried so far (this, batch 14, and their Boston Rum Party limited-edition rye) have been more astringent than I’d like, and have drunk a bit above their proof point. I will say that I enjoyed Batch 16 more today than the last time I tried it, perhaps because the bottle is slowly opening up over time, but it still wasn’t enough to take down the lighter, sweeter, and creamier Penelope Estate offering.

********************
Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Stagg 25B (5.3)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
1792 BiB SiB (5.5)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6.3)
Blanton’s Gold (6.4)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Pursuit United DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (7)
Green River Honey (7)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7)
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
Weller 107 (7.5)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Buffalo Trace LEP Wheat 15yr (7.6)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
E.H. Taylor BTAC 2025 (8)
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.1)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

{Note: You can find me on instagram @whiskeyincontext}

I’m a pretty big fan of double oaked bourbons (I haven’t had the opportunity to try a DO rye yet, but I assume I’d also enjoy those!). I know they’re not everybody’s cup of tea, but for me, they add a layer of complexity, and frequently sweetness, that I find really enjoyable. That’s not to say that they’re all the same, of course. Some can be overly-oaked to the point that they’re almost harsh, while others can taste more like a toasted bourbon than a double-oaked one.

These two double oaked expressions, Peerless and Pursuit United, have both tested out pretty well for me in the past. I’m curious to see how they stack up against each other, though, because as I recall they have pretty different profiles. Let’s get right to it and see how it goes!

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ABOUT Pursuit United Double Oaked

*From the Producer: This limited release bourbon has undergone a unique secondary oak finishing process to develop a rich, nostalgic flavor reminiscent of historic bourbon styles but with an 108 proof kick. Working in partnership with InnerStave, Pursuit Spirits has created a bourbon that pays homage to the bottles that collected dust for years with distinct notes of butterscotch and creamy caramel.

The double oak finishing process starts with Pursuit United's signature bourbon blend, which undergoes a lengthy secondary finish using custom 36-month seasoned French oak medium toasted staves. This extra maturation extracts bold oak notes while imparting a deep amber hue and velvety mouthfeel.

*Mashbill: Blend Of Bourbons From KY, TN, And NY . Mashbills Include: Bardstown Bourbon Co. (78% Corn, 10% Rye, 12% Malted Barley), Not In Tullahoma (80% Corn, 10% Rye, 10% Malted Barley) And Finger Lakes Distilling (70% Local Corn, 20% Red Winter Wheat, 10% Malted Barley)

*Proof: 108

*Price: $72.99

*Age Statement: None, other than the 36-month finishing time

ABOUT Peerless Double Oak

*From the Distillery: Exposing Peerless Bourbon to two separate casks allows for two full barrel extractions. The result? Supercharged notes give this whiskey supreme complexity and mouthfeel. Our dedicated tasting team strategically selects barrels with prominent grain, fruit, and herbaceous notes as they are complemented well by the extra barrel character. This ultimately makes for a population of barrels that are packed with flavor, yet balanced enough to uphold the Peerless name.

*Mashbill: Undisclosed

*Proof: 108.6

*Price: $89.99

*Age Statement: NAS

*******************

REVIEW: For the purpose of this blind, both bourbons have been poured into glencairns and rested for approximately 15 minutes.

Appearance A: Rich, dark mahogany. I think guessing which one is which here is going to be pretty easy!

Appearance B: Light amber. A nice caramel color, but nothing like A’s deep reddish-brown.

Nose A: Oak, caramel, and toffee right off the bat. Also some dark fruit, along with sweetness, like black cherry or blackberry pie with a nice sugary crust.

Nose B: Much lighter and mustier. Pencil shavings and something like dusty old books, along with leather and vanilla. Not much else is here – it’s a weak nose overall, especially in comparison to A.

Palate A: Medium mouthfeel, with lots of oak hitting right away. It’s complemented by caramel and vanilla, but they’re not the main flavors – the oak is the star of the show here. There’s a touch of astringency but surprisingly little spice.

Palate B: Much stronger and better than the largely weak nose led me to expect! This is pretty nice overall: caramel and maple syrup lead the way, and it has a very thick, coating, creamy mouthfeel. Some peach cobbler and plenty of oak go along with a bit of spice and ethanol. It’s not overly complex – there aren’t a lot of other flavors rising to the surface – but what is there is mostly very nice.

Finish A: Here’s some spice, although there still isn’t all that much of it. Most of the finish is, once again, oak-forward: tannins, leather, and char are accompanied by the faintest bit of dark fruit and vanilla. The finish is medium-length.

Finish B: Medium-length and very bitter, primarily featuring oak, cigar wrapper, and pencil shavings. No sweetness to speak of here.

Rating A: 6.6

Rating B: 6.4

Thoughts: On the nose and finish, A was clearly superior. B had a very weak nose (it took some effort to smell anything at all in the glass), and its finish was very bitter. However, when it came to the palate, B had the edge, in mouthfeel if not in overall flavor. A had a medium mouthfeel to go with its more complex flavors, as well as its own brand of sweetness. B, on the other hand, had a wonderfully thick, creamy mouthfeel, as well as a nice combination of oak and buttery/caramelly sweetness that complemented the flavor without making it into a dessert whiskey.

It’s hard to rate these against each other, but that’s primarily because B’s creamy oiliness just made it so darn enjoyable to drink. That’s really its only edge over A, but it was so memorable that it’s a significant one.

Prediction A: Peerless (the color alone gives it away!)

Prediction B: Pursuit United

********************

Actual A: Peerless

Actual B: Pursuit United

More Thoughts: I was frankly disappointed in Pursuit United’s performance in this blind. From appearance to nose to finish, it didn’t really hold a candle to the Peerless Double Oak expression. However, I can’t say enough good things about Pursuit’s palate: while it wasn’t the most flavorful whiskey I’ve had, it was creamy and velvety in a way that very few can match, and its combination of oak, caramel, and maple syrup was very enjoyable. This makes rating the two against each other a difficult prospect, but I think I’m ultimately satisfied with the outcome: 6.4 for Pursuit, and 6.6 for Peerless. Both are between “Very Good” and “Great”; Peerless just has the edge overall.

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Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Stagg 25B (5.3)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
1792 BiB SiB (5.5)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Blanton’s Gold (6.3)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Pursuit United DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (7)
Green River Honey (7)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7)
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
Weller 107 (7.5)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Buffalo Trace LEP Wheat 15yr (7.6)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
E.H. Taylor BTAC 2025 (8)
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.1)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

Folks talk about Elijah Craig barrel proof an awful lot, but – other than a private barrel store pick that I didn’t find to be very special – this will actually be the first one I’ve ever tried. This expression, C925, was released last September. At just over 9 years old, it’s a pretty young ECBP, but I’m hoping it’ll be pretty good all the same!

From the Distillery: To sip Barrel Proof is to experience Bourbon in its purest form: uncut, straight from the barrel, and without chill filtering. Each bottle is hand labeled with its unique proof and batch number; but the nose, taste, and finish are pure Elijah Craig.

Each batch of Barrel Proof is bottled with a unique age statement, including the month and year of the youngest barrel from the batch. The proof also varies with each release. The batch number on the label provides specific information about each batch. The first letter indicates the order of the release for that year, starting with "A.” The first number represents the month of the release. The third and fourth digits indicate the year.

Tasting notes: Caramel with toasted oak, fruit notes of apple and orange. Rich vanilla, caramel, and butterscotch along with spices of black pepper & cinnamon at the back of the palate. Nicely layered finish showcasing all flavors, fades slowly then lingers as it cools.

Proof: 129

Mashbill: 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley

Age Statement: 9 years, 1 month

Filtration: Non-Chill Filtered

Appearance: Nice dark amber with a hint of mahogany. Relatively oily and viscous, with nice legs on the glass.

Nose: If I didn’t know better, I’d think this was a Buffalo Trace product, as the first thing I’m smelling is grape. After that is toffee, leather, and confectioner’s sugar – again, very Buffalo Trace-y. Some cinnamon and allspice are also present, but they’re pretty far in the background, where they’re joined by another bright, sweet note that reminds me of cherry cobbler. Once the nose is empty, I just get a wave of caramel and grape.

Palate: Spice and proof heat hit right off the bat. It feels like strong rye spice, but given the 10% rye in the mash bill, that’s unlikely to be its main source. Some caramel or toffee then rises to the surface, to be joined by maple, vanilla, and that grape from the nose. Unfortunately, the youthiness of this batch also shows itself, especially in the transition to the rear of the palate: there’s a good bit of astringency, as well as a combination of young leather and what strikes me as a green, underripe grain of some kind.

Finish: Along with a significant amount of spice, the finish also carries on the youthiness of the palate, with bitter oak and young leather serving as the main flavors all the way through to the aftertaste. The slightest little bit of grape is there on the finish, as well, but it serves more to tease than anything else, as bitter and sour notes reign supreme.

Thoughts: My first foray into Elijah Craig’s Barrel Proof batches had both positives and negatives. The positives were a sweet, enjoyable nose and some nice flavors early on the palate. The negatives, on the other hand, tended to overwhelm their counterparts, to the point that sourness (rather than enjoyability) is my most lasting memory of this pour.

Rating: This one had potential. The nose was really good, and there were parts of the palate experience that were also very positive. Unfortunately, this batch’s youth seems to have undone much of that potential, as the combination of sour and bitter flavors overwhelmed those more enjoyable elements, causing this to be more of a middling pour than a world-beater. Given all of this, for me this bottle rates a 6.1 on the modified T8ke scale: it has positives that make it Very Good, but it also has negatives that keep it from being anywhere near Great.

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Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals and adjusted for blinds & re-reviews)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Stagg 25B (5.3)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
1792 BiB SiB (5.5)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Elijah Craig BP C925 (6.1)
Blanton’s Gold (6.3)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Pursuit United DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.6)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (7)
Green River Honey (7)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7)
John J. Bowman SiB (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
Weller 107 (7.5)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Buffalo Trace LEP Wheat 15yr (7.6)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
E.H. Taylor BTAC 2025 (8)
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.1)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

Old Dominck is another whiskey brand that I’m trying for the first time as I review it. This single-barrel Tennessee whiskey is finished with French oak staves, which provide a flavor that I’ve come to have a love-hate relationship with, so I’m curious to see how it works out in this specific expression.

This is a barrel pick from OG McFarland and Georgia Liquor Barn in north GA, and the staves they selected are “mocha.” Let’s see how it is!

On the Bottle: From the heart of Memphis comes new singe barrel offerings featuring distinct stave finishes, both beginning with our classic Tennessee Straight Bourbon mash bill. Each takes its own craft journey with stave finishes imparting flavor, character, and the next level of our craft spirits pursuit.

This single barrel underwent a two-month stave finish with French Oak, infusing it with notes of flora-fruit, silky tannins, and refined spice for a sophisticated, layered sip.

From the Distillery https://olddominick.com/spirits/straight-tennessee-whiskey/: We took the bold rye spice from Kentucky bourbon and introduced it to the smooth soul of traditional Tennessee Whiskey. Old Dominick Straight Tennessee Whiskey uses our signature Tennessee Whiskey mash bill of 75% corn, 13% rye and 12% malted barley. Tennessee Whiskey meets all the same legal requirements as bourbon, which means it must be made in the U.S., must be made from at least 51% corn, and must be stored in new, charred oak barrels. But Tennessee Whiskey raises those standards even more. While bourbon doesn’t have to be made in Kentucky — contrary to a popular misconception —Tennessee whiskey must be produced in the state of Tennessee. Before barrelling, Tennessee Whiskey must be filtered through sugar maple charcoal: the famous Lincoln County Process. That extra step removes certain esters and congeners, compounds that can make whiskey feel harsh.

Mashbill: 75% Corn, 13% Rye, 12% Malted Barley

Stave Selection: French Oak “Mocha” Stave

Age Statement: 6 Years

Proof: 111.88

Price: $49.99

Appearance: Rich amber with a hint of orange. Semi-oily with decent legs.

Nose: A nice wave of caramel and brown butter right off the bat, followed by black cherry, graham cracker, vanilla, and oak. Very little ethanol. All in all, it’s what a good bourbon should smell like. Once the glass is empty, a combination of vanilla, brown butter, and leather remains, along with a touch of cigar ash.

Palate: Medium-thick mouthfeel with a fair amount of spice and proof heat. Sweet caramel carries over from the nose, along with plum, fig, luxardo cherry, vanilla, brown sugar, and crispy pie crust. After this is a wave of oak tannins and toffee, with the “mocha” flavor from the staves following on the mid-palate. I get notes of dark chocolate and espresso here, which is relatively unique and definitely enjoyable. More oak rises to the top as the sip hits the rear of the palate and transitions into the finish.

Finish: Surprisingly long and evolving. Lots of oak and some spice start the party, followed by leather and cigar ash. While this combination suggests that the finish will be bitter and dry throughout, those notes eventually fade and are thankfully replaced by a wonderful caramel-chocolate flavor that lasts and lasts (and lasts!). Overall, it makes for a very nice experience.

Thoughts: My first experience with Old Dominick was a good one! Essentially, this smells, tastes, and finishes the way a solid bourbon should. It’s sweet but not cloying, spicy but not overly so, and has a lengthy finish that transitions from oaky-smokiness into a nice caramelly aftertaste. It drinks at or just below its almost-112 proof point, as well, which is nice for me as a fan of primarily 90º-110º expressions. Ultimately, this is an offering that I won’t hesitate to recommend to anybody – experienced or novice – who just wants to experience good, solid whiskey. It has good bones, but it also has enough meat on them to be worth the price of admission.

Rating: Old Dominick’s “Mocha” Stave-Finished Single-Barrel whiskey is both solid and enjoyable. For me, it earns a 7.6 on the modified T8ke scale – between “Great” and “Excellent.” I highly recommend it!

********************
Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Stagg 25B (5.3)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
1792 BiB SiB (5.5)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Redwood Empire Emerald Giant (6)
Blanton’s Gold (6.3)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.5)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (7)
Green River Honey (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
Eagle Rare 10yr (7.2)
John J. Bowman SiB (7.2)
Sagamore 9yr SiB Rye (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Old Dominick Staved SiB (7.6)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr SiB Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (8.1)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.2)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect

These ryes are very close in proof and price, if not in age. One comes from Maryland, and the other from Kentucky. One is a single barrel, and the other is a small batch. I rated both around 7 (“Great”) in my stand-alone reviews (Sagamore | Willett), but how do they stand up against each other? Let’s find out!

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ABOUT Sagamore 9-Year Single Barrel Rye

*From the Producer: It’s all about the barrel. The Sagamore Barrel Select Program is a unique 9-year-old Maryland-Style straight rye whiskey. This whiskey is crafted using a single barrel of high-rye whiskey that is expertly blended with a low-rye whiskey mash bill by our distilling team. No two expressions taste the same and you are guaranteed to enjoy a one-of-a-kind product. In a copy-paste world, our Barrel Select Program offers independence and individuality. Find your flavor and share its spirit.

*Mashbill: Combination of 95% rye/5% malted barley and 51% rye/43% corn/4% malted barley (MGP)

*Age Statement: 9 Years

*Proof: 110

*Price: $70

ABOUT Willett Family Estate Small Batch 4-Year Rye Whiskey

*From the Distillery: Mimicking the flavor profile of a historic Maryland rye whiskey style, Willett Family Estate Rye is a combination of two rye mash bills commingled together to achieve a balance of fruit and spice and bottled at cask strength.

*Mashbill: 90/10 of 74% rye, 11% corn, 15% barley, and 51% rye, 34% corn, 13% barley

*Age Statement: 4 Years

*Proof: 110.6

*Price: $60

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REVIEW: For the purpose of this blind, both bourbons have been poured into glencairns and rested for approximately 15 minutes.

Appearance A: Rich, dark amber with a burnt orange hue. Nice thick legs on the glass.

Appearance B: Lighter amber than A, with similar viscosity.

Nose A: Red fruit and caramel, with a sweet floral note. After a bit, this transitions to a combination of plum, maple syrup, and cream cheese frosting, and then to a nice combination of leather and toffee. The latter are still strongly present once the glass is empty, as well.

Nose B: A bit lighter and a touch sweeter, but with more ethanol. Bubble gum, crème brûlée sugar, and honey are also present. Once the glass is empty, there aren’t really any strong notes left behind – just a light sweetness.

Palate A: A pretty strong kick of rye spice followed by caramel, vanilla, plum and some thick and rich breadiness. Nice, fairly coating mouthfeel; not astringent at all. The red fruit also comes through on the palate – primarily pink lady apple and rainier cherry. The floral sweetness from the nose, on the other hand, isn’t really there.

Palate B: Rye spice up front, as well (no surprise, given that these are both ryes!). There’s some light sweetness, as well, like golden honey, which is combined with standard rye herbs like mint and dill. There’s less complexity to this one, and a little less viscosity, but the flavors are nicely balanced and enjoyable.

Finish A: Rye spice all the way, baby! Some oak makes its way in there after a bit, as well. After those fade, a nice combination of caramel and leather remain, along with a little bit of dill.

Finish B: Rye with some floral notes, as well as that mint and dill from the palate. The latter last quite a while, with some cigar wrapper and leather eventually rising up to join them.

Rating A: 7.4

Rating B: 6.8

Thoughts: These ryes are different enough that rating them separately isn’t as difficult as it could have been. A was more robust, with a richer mouthfeel and more breadiness and complexity. B, on the other hand, was lighter and sweeter, although not as sweet as I expected.

After trying A, with its richer and darker flavors, I assumed that it was Sagamore and B was the Willett 4yr. However, the last time I drank this Willett it was wonderfully light and sweet — like pure honeysuckle! — and neither of these fit that bill this time. I’m still going to presume that they are Sagamore and Willett (respectively), but B definitely did not live up to the 7.3 rating that I gave to the Willett 4-year when I reviewed it on its own just a few weeks ago, while A easily outperformed my prior 7-point review of the Sagamore.

Prediction A: Sagamore 9-year Rye

Prediction B: Willett 4-year Rye

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Actual A: Sagamore 9-year Rye

Actual B: Willett 4-year Rye

More Thoughts: I’m not surprised that the Sagamore did well here, but I am disappointed in how the Willett performed. The last time I had a pour of this 4-year rye, it turned into several pours, because I was enjoying its light, honeysuckle-sweetness that much. This time around, I didn’t pick up much of that note, which meant that the Willett ended up just drinking like a thinner, lighter, younger, and ultimately lesser version of the Sagamore.

That’s not to take anything away from this 9-year single barrel Sagamore expression, as it was very good on its own merits (and not just in comparison to the Willett). It was robust and bready in the best way, and with this blind it has jumped up my list of favorite ryes to a spot behind only a very select few (Willett 8yr SiB, Lasso Motel SBBP, and Thomas Handy). Sagamore is really, really good, and I highly recommend it!

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Previous Ratings (updated to include decimals)

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.
Maker’s Mark staved private selection (2.5)
Penelope Architect custom build (2.5)

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.
Willett Pot Still (3)

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists
Found North SiB Oloroso finish (4.5)
Daniel Weller Emmer Wheat (4.5)
Augusta Buckner’s 10yr (4.6)
Shortbarrel Sapsquatch (4.8)

5 | Good | Good, just fine
Jack Daniel’s SBBP Rye (5)
Jack Daniel’s Heritage (5)
Four Roses SBBP OESO (5)
New Riff 4yr SBBP (5)
Stagg 25B (5.3)
Four Roses SBBP OBSV (5.3)
Evan Williams America250 SiB (5.3)
1792 BiB SiB (5.5)
Blanton’s (5.5)
Old Forester 1924 (5.7)
Penelope Marshmallow Toast (5.8)

6 | Very Good | A cut above
Copper & Cask Boston Rum Party (6)
Copper & Cask #16 (6)
Penelope Wheated (6)
Blanton’s Gold (6.3)
Copper & Cask #14 DO (6.4)
Augusta Buckner’s 13yr (6.5)
Peerless DO (6.5)
Barrell Cigar Blend (6.5)
Sazerac FP (6.5)
Green River Wheated (6.5)
Elmer T. Lee (6.5)
Eagle Rare 10yr (6.6)
Willett 4yr Rye (6.8)
John J. Bowman SiB (6.8)

7 | Great | Well above average
Shortbarrel Bees Knees V (7)
Green River Honey (7)
Peerless Toasted (7.1)
Sagamore Rye 9yr (7.4)
Weller 107 (7.5)
E.H. Taylor SmB (7.5)
Old Forester 1910 (7.5)
Penelope Estate 10yr SiB (7.5)
Buffalo Trace Single Oak (7.6)
Eagle Rare 12yr (7.7)
Woodford DO SBBP (7.7)
Old Fitzgerald 7yr (7.7)
Willett 8yr Rye (7.9)
Lasso Motel SBBP Rye (7.9)

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional
Found North 012 (8)
Blanton’s SFTB (8)
Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend 420 (8.5)
Thomas H. Handy 2025 (8.7)

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect