u/NerdsNBourbs

Today we're taking a look at the 2023 Thomas H. Handy! This is the "least desired" of the desired yearly BTAC release from Buffalo Trace, but is personally one I try to get my hands on if I can find it at a decent price. This is a bottle that I'm very curious in what it'll be like in the future now that we have 125 proof Sazerac Full Proofs hitting the shelves (except here in Georgia, thanks distribution). Given these releases come in around 6 years old, I'm wondering (hoping) we see the age statement creep up in future releases. Regardless, let's sit down and see what the 2023 THH is all about.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: 6 years, 2 months

Proof: 124.9

Nose: Very strong aromas that hit me first like I'm in a flower shop. Orange peel, vanilla cream, black licorice, and rye spice all intermingle together under the initial very potent floral notes. Giving the glass a swirl, tons of sweetness takes over. Bright citrus, apricots, and cinnamon. This smells absolutely fantastic .

Palate: Good, oily viscosity of sweet apricots, black pepper, cinnamon, and rye spice that tingles all over the palate. After a few sips, the apricots start to fade out but the citrus and rye spice stay strong throughout along with more cinnamon and that black licorice from the nose.

Finish: The rye spice from the palate carries over well into the finish along with cinnamon, mild apricot, and black pepper. Finish is on the longer side of medium in length.

What an excellent pour. This brings out everything I love about a good rye and then some. The nose alone is amongst the best I've experienced on a rye before, but I know it may not be everyone's jam with how floral it comes across. I absolutely love that apricot note and if it just stayed consistent on the palate, this could compete for the best rye I've had period. That being said, this is still an insanely good pour.

t8ke scale: 8.7/10 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Up next, we're checking out this Old Forester Single Barrel Barrel Strength that was picked by Corner's back in 2022! This pick is from floor 3 on warehouse K and was one of the first Old Forester Blue Labels I was able to get my hands on back in the day. I was beyond the moon about this pick as, at the time, I had people telling me barrels from warehouse K were where the money was at. I remember working from home and telling work "brb" as I drove up to snag me one of these. Was it worth the hassle? Let's find out.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: NAS

Proof: 129.3

Nose: A lot of heat followed by chocolate, pecans, brown sugar, and oak. Swirling the glass brings out more heat but then some sweet dark cherries and brown sugar break thru. Pretty inline with most Old Forester Blue Labels I've had, albeit with a bigger ethanol punch.

Palate: Good, oily viscosity where much of the nose carries over. Dark cherries and chocolate up front followed by brown sugar, molasses, and oak. Very strong ethanol kick on the backend though. These generally run hot, but this one in particular may be the hottest I've experienced. That being said, it doesn't completely overshadow the bold flavors that're here. After a few sips, the dark cherry starts to fade off and you're left with mostly dark sweets and oak.

Finish: Longer side of medium finish of caramel, toffee, molasses, oak, and a nice lingering black cherry.

The flavors on this are good and inline with many Blue Label's I've had before, but the heat does knock it down a notch. I generally don't mind heat on my pours, but this one packs a hefty punch. What's wild is when I first popped this way back in, it was pure fire. It has toned back some since then, but she still spicy. That black cherry note that lingers on the finish is the star of the show for me!

t8ke scale: 6.9/10 | Very Good | A cut above.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Today we're taking a look at the Jack Daniel's Tanyard Hill Rye! This was the 2025 Special Release from Jack Daniel's and was a single barrel-styled release that saw whiskey from roughly 200 different barrels (before the Angel's Share kicked in) coming from the top floors of Barrel House 1 up on Tanyard Hill. If you know me, you know I'm a sucker for some good Jack rye, so this was high on my priority list for 2025. Let's see if she was worth the hype. For my barrel nerds out there, this bottle is from barrel 25-05317.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: 9 years, 10 months

Proof: 133.8

Nose: So rich and intense. Banana bread, rye spice, molasses, brown sugar, and oak are all here and perfectly balanced creating what's inline with many Barrel Proof Rye's from Jack Daniel's that I've had in the past, but way more refined. Swirling the glass brings out a heavy dose of banana bread, brown sugar, dark berry, cinnamon, and chocolate.

Palate: Velvety and very oily texture of dark berries, chocolate, oak, and cinnamon. Subsequent sips brings out that Jack banana along with tingling rye spice and old oak. Like the nose, there are notes that you will find in a lot of other Barrel Proof Rye's from Jack Daniel's, but this is less brash and doesn't drink like you'd think for a near 134 proof pour. That being said, the flavors here are still very bold. Absolutely delicious.

Finish: Long finish of clove, dark cherries, tobacco, banana bread, and a damp oak.

Each Tanyard Hill will obviously have variance given it's a single barrel release, but this particular barrel is insanely good and amongst the best rye's I've ever had. All the flavors I love from a normal Jack Barrel Proof Rye just amped up and very well refined, no rough edges. No shock that this won my 2025 Rye of the Year blind.

t8ke scale: 9.0/10 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Today for Shelfer Saturday, we're taking a look at a classic; Old Grand-Dad 114! You know those bottles that you see at every shop and you just never grab one despite hearing how great of a value pour it is? That's OGD 114 for me. Always ignored it until recently and I'm glad I finally smartened up. Let's get into it.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: NAS

Proof: 114

Nose: So much orange peel and citrus jump out of the glass followed by caramel, brown sugar, and some oak. The citrus notes are enhanced after swirling the glass and are joined by some sweet cinnamon and a mild Beam peanut.

Palate: Medium viscosity on the palate that feels a bit muted at the frontend but really builds well on the mid and backend. Citrus, cinnamon, and oak at first with brown sugar showing up after subsequent sips. Towards the end of the pour, this starts to become dominated by that cinnamon note, but I'm not complaining.

Finish: Medium finish of cinnamon, baking spices, and a mildly drying oak.

Don't be like me and wait years into your whiskey journey to finally grab one of these. For the price, this one is very hard to top! The citrus and cinnamon combo I get on the palate is delicious and although I wish the palate as a whole was more pronounced at the front, I'm not gonna complain about it given its asking price. This has me wanting to grab an OGD 114 single barrel whenever I finally come across one!

t8ke scale: 6.3/10 | Very Good | A cut above.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Today we're checking out the Maker's Mark BEP! This was the "Barrel Entry Proof" from Maker's that dropped in 2023 and was supposed to be the final release of the Wood Finishing Series. According to Maker's, 10 virgin toasted American oak staves were placed in recently emptied Maker's barrels, refilled with Maker's bourbon at 110 proof, and returned to their warehouses for aging. If you've read any of my reviews before, you know Maker's hits a sweet spot for me. Let's sit down and see how she is.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: NAS

Proof: 110.7

Nose: Very sweet up front of brown sugar and molasses with some underlying butterscotch and clove. Giving the glass a swirl completely eliminates that butterscotch and clove leaving you with all brown sugar, molasses, and a bright cherry.

Palate: Medium viscosity on the palate of brown butter, cinnamon, baking spices, and oak. This starts to cover the palate insanely well after a few sips and is almost sticky-like. Reminds me of having a honey bun back in the day. Not sure I've had a pour give off that feeling before. Brown sugar, cinnamon, and oak start to take over towards the end of the pour and it gets pretty drying.

Finish: Medium finish of cinnamon spice, brown sugar, and a drying oak.

This is a wild one. The way the palate starts to get this sticky feeling to it as you're progressing thru the pour is unique and kind of reminds me of some malty stuff with how bready it feels. Overall though, this was a great send off for the original Wood Finishing Series from Maker's that delivers less of the red fruits I'm used to, but a healthy dose of dark sweets and spice.

t8ke scale: 7.3/10 | Great | Well above average.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Today we're taking a look at this Cask Strength Single Barrel Bourbon from 13th Colony that was picked by Mega Package back in 2024! This is a 4.5 year bourbon, assuming from MGP, that was part of a run a few years a go where quite a few shops in Georgia were getting some single barrel picks in. This one is on the younger side, especially compared to some picks that made it out of the state of Georgia, but that's another subject for another time. This was my first chance to grab one of these picks, so I took it. Let's join our pal Andy Bernard and see if this one is singing a good tune.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: 4.5 years

Proof: 129.9

Nose: Pretty sharp heat punch up front followed by brown butter, vanilla, sweet grapes, and brown sugar. Giving the glass a swirl brings out a strong caramel brittle, some oak, and more heat. There's a fruity note there too but comes off more like a cherry now instead of a grape. Not very complex but I do really like the aromas on this!

Palate: Medium viscosity of vanilla, brown sugar, and a mild grape at first. That grape turns more into cherry after a few sips with more caramel and some cinnamon thrown in. The cherry eventually starts to become borderline medicinal too, which I'm a fan of. There's some good heat to this one as well!

Finish: Medium finish of mild grape, cinnamon, baking spices, and oak. Very good medicinal cherry on the tail end as well!

This being my first experience with a normal bourbon from 13th Colony, I like it! You can definitely tell it's on the younger side with how hot it can be at times, but it's not overwhelming and doesn't overshadow the flavors that're here. This one doesn't sway me, I still very much enjoy rye's from 13th Colony over the bourbon's, but this is a pretty solid single barrel pick altogether and I am a big fan of how medicinal that cherry eventually gets.

t8ke scale: 6.7/10 | Very Good | A cut above.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Today we're taking a look at this Penelope Barrel Strength Private Release! This is a 9 year, 4 grain bourbon with a mash bill of 85% corn, 10% rye, 3% malted barley, and 2% wheat. For fans of Penelope like myself, this was a pretty big deal when it dropped back in 2023 as it was the first big/new release since MGP officially bought the Penelope brand. Overall though, I feel like this one got very little hype and flew under the radar. Let's sit down and see how she is.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: 9 years

Proof: 109

Nose: All dark and sweet. Chocolate, caramel brittle, oak, and raspberries are all at the forefront and come in with some decent heat behind it. Giving the glass a swirl brings out some cherries, more raspberries, and brown sugar.

Palate: Medium viscosity of chocolate, brown sugar, cinnamon, and oak. At first the fruits from the nose don't show at all, but after a few sips, the raspberries and some strawberries begin to appear but still very subdued. It's interesting how on the nose this came across with some heat, but on the palate, not much at all. Very enjoyable flavors on this.

Finish: Medium finish of cinnamon, caramel brittle, leather, and a nice lingering black pepper spice.

Crazy to think how under the radar this one went. If I had a complaint, it's that I wish the red fruits from the nose carried over more to the palate, but that's a minor gripe. Overall, this is a great pour and set the bar for what future releases, now Estate Collections, would be like from Penelope.

t8ke scale: 7.4/10 | Great | Well above average.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Today we're checking out this Maple-Finished Bourbon from Nulu that was picked by t8ke back in 2023! I've always enjoyed these finished Nulu picks for what they are and this was actually the first maple finish I ever added to my selection. This pick is a 6 year MGP bourbon that was then finished for an additional 6 months in maple barrels. Let's see how she is.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: 6 years, finished for additional 6 months

Proof: 116

Nose: No doubt about it, it's a maple-finished bourbon. But although the maple is the dominant note, it's not coming off as sickly sweet or covering up the bourbon itself. Beyond the maple, there's tobacco, oak, and a decently strong peppery spice. Overall though, the aromas give off major Pancake Pantry in Gatlinburg vibes and I'm not mad about it.

Palate: Medium viscosity of caramel, toffee, vanilla, and a small hit of the maple that shows up on the backend and carries out thru the finish. After a few sips, some tobacco starts to show up along with oak. The maple is definitely present, but not as potent as the nose would lead you to believe.

Finish: Medium finish of oak, toffee, black pepper, and maple. Maple comes out a lot stronger on the finish than it does the palate itself.

I think Nulu did a great job in finding a good balance between the finish and the bourbon itself. The nose would lead you to believe that this would be a pour dominated by its finish, but that's not really the case. Outside the nose, for my palate, the finish doesn't really come in until it reaches the backend. Still though, the maple is strong enough on the finish where if you don't like that flavor note, you probably wouldn't be a fan of this. For me, this is a job well done and another great Nulu pick from t8ke.

t8ke scale: 6.8/10 | Very Good | A cut above.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Today for Shelfer Saturday we're checking out this Toasted Rye from ASW! This is batch 23-002 and features the classic 95/5 mash bill finished for a year in toasted barrels. I was a pretty big fan of their toasted bourbon and for the longest believed it to be the best shelfer you could get from ASW. Toasted MGP rye's always hit a sweet spot for me, so excited to dive into this one before it's finished off. Let's see how she is.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: 6 years

Proof: 108

Nose: Toasted citrus, bananas, and a little bit of mint. Swirling the glass enhances that toasted citrus and brings out some lemon cookie, tobacco, rye spice, and oak. I've had quite a few toasted MGP rye's over the years and this may be the best smelling one yet.

Palate: Medium viscosity where much of the nose carries over. That toasted citrus is the first note that hits followed by lemon cookie, molasses, dark cherries, and a mild rye spice. After a few sips, the citrus starts to come off like orange marmalade and a little mint starts to come thru.

Finish: Longer side of medium finish of citrus, rye spice, mint, and oak.

This is the best toasted MGP rye I've ever had. By no means thin but a little more viscosity on the palate really would've elevated this to the next level for me. This is now the 2nd pour I've ever gotten any sort of lemon note on (after Wild Turkey 101 Rye) and I'm absolutely here for it. It comes off in such a sweet way and reminds me so much of a good lemon cookie. ASW crushed this toasted rye and it has become my favorite shelfer from them!

t8ke scale: 7.7/10 | Great | Well above average.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Today we're taking a look at this batch 2-GA Old Carter Bourbon! This is one I got very early on in my whiskey journey and is one I was over the moon about as I had just "won" the chance to buy it at a store's raffle. I knew of the brand at the time and the hype, but literally knew nothing else about it. Fancy label, all kinds of hype, high price tag, gotta be the best stuff ever right? Let's find out.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: NAS

Proof: 116

Nose: Sweet oak, brown sugar, caramel brittle, cinnamon, and brown butter. This is pretty sweet and full of good aromas. Giving the glass a swirl brings out more of the same with some added leather and plums.

Palate: Very oily viscosity with the plums from the nose coming in first followed by caramel, brown sugar, and oak. After a few sips, the plums start to fade away while brown butter, caramel brittle, and oak start to dominate. The viscosity never wavers, this one stays very oily throughout.

Finish: Longer side of medium finish of brown sugar, dark cherry, caramel, and a mildly drying oak.

The problem with the 2-GA batch from Old Carter is simply its asking price. Everything about the whiskey itself is great, particularly the viscosity that remains very oily from the first sip to the last, however it still feels entirely inline with other NDP's sourcing MGP bourbon that cost sub-70. This is a little bit more elevated than, for example, some Doc Swinson's picks I've had, but at close to triple the price. Great whiskey, but terrible value for this batch.

t8ke scale: 7.2/10 | Great | Well above average.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Today we're taking a look at The Steward's Release from Maker's Mark! This is the 3rd entry into the revived Wood Finishing Series and features Maker's bourbon finished with 10 virgin toasted American oak staves. This is a series that seems to not get much attention now that Star Hill Farms and Cellar Aged are a yearly release, but it's still one I always look forward to. I popped The Steward's Release while at the beach this year and, spoiler alert, was very pleased with it. Let's dive into it.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: NAS

Proof: 109.8

Nose: Maker's consistently has some of the best aromas in all of whiskey for me and that train isn't stopping here. Strawberries and vanilla cream, brown sugar, and a mild tobacco. Giving the glass a swirl really brings out all the red fruits. Strawberries, cherries, vanilla cream, more brown sugar, and some oak.

Palate: Good oily viscosity of sweet cinnamon, black pepper, mild strawberries, and oak. Not as fruit-forward initially as the nose would lead you to believe, but after a few sips those bright fruits start to really set in. Strawberry Creme Savers candy, cinnamon, cherries, honey, and oak.

Finish: Medium finish of tingling baking spices, cherries, cinnamon, and a drying oak.

The Steward's Release is another success from Maker's who has been on a tear lately with their releases. I have not formally reviewed The Keeper's Release yet, but for me this one just edges out The Heart from 2024 and while the first few sips didn't lean very fruity, it didn't take long for this one to turn into a red fruit bomb on the palate.

t8ke scale: 7.8/10 | Great | Well above average.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Today for Shelfer Saturday, we're taking a look at the Old Forester 1910! Took me an embarrassingly long time to add this one to my selection. 1/4th of the Whiskey Row lineup, this is a double oaked bourbon and is the main competitor to the other Brown-Forman Double Oak shelfer from Woodford Reserve. This is an iconic bottle and one that needs little introduction. Let's dive into it.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: NAS

Proof: 93

Nose: So desserty. Rich dark chocolate, cherries, marshmallows, and toffee. Giving the glass a swirl enhances that dark chocolate and brings out molasses, maple, more cherries, and sweet oak. One of the best dessert in a glass noses I've experienced! Once the glass is nearly empty, it smells exactly like a chocolate candy bar.

Palate: Not thin, but the viscosity is pretty light. The flavors being delivered are not light however, Strong hit of chocolate up front followed by toffee, vanilla frosting, and oak. After a few sips, the cherries from the nose start to shine along with molasses.

Finish: Medium finish of maple, chocolate, toffee, and oak.

I'm such a big fan of the 1910. It's just so classic and one of the best double oaked bottles you'll find. Goes without saying, this is a mood pour if for when you want something that leans on the far end of the sweet spectrum, but not something sickly sweet. I'm impressed with all phases of this pour and that chocolate candy bar aroma I get when the glass is just about empty is fantastic!

t8ke scale: 7.3/10 | Great | Well above average.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Today we're taking a look at the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Rye B526! For many, Elijah Craig Barrel Proofs are like some work from Mysterio; an illusion of what they used to be. More often than not when I talk to someone about the line, it's always mentioned how they just aren't what they used to be. Enter a shakeup for the lineup with these barrel proof rye's. So far in 2026, we haven't seen any new ECBP bourbon, but instead these barrel proof rye's. This was the first I was able to get my hands on, but the few prior batches had mostly glowing reviews from what I saw. Excited to see how this one is. Let's dive into it.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: 10 years, 8 months

Proof: 115.6

Nose: Rich citrus and brown sugar off the bat. On a deeper inhale, cinnamon, black pepper, mint, and rye spice start to come out. Giving the glass a swirl brings out much of the same but with a decent heat punch. The aromas on this are pretty great and show a good balance between sweet tones and more earthy tones. Big fan!

Palate: Fairly oily mouthfeel of cinnamon, citrus, mild pine, and a black peppery spice that shows up on the backend of the palate. After a few sips, the black peppery spice intensifies but overall the sweeter notes start to dominate the palate. Citrus, brown sugar and some cinnamon.

Finish: Longer side of medium finish of brown sugar, orange peel, mint, oak, and a nice peppery tingle.

What a great introduction into ECBP Rye! Citrus is the star of the show here as I pick that up the most with this pour, but the earthy tones, particularly on the nose, feel so well balanced with the citrus and other sweeter notes I get. I'm not sure what Heaven Hill has planned for their ECBP lineup when it comes to their bourbon and ryes, but I really hope we see the rye's continue on for years to come. This is a great pour and has put ECBP back on the map for me.

t8ke scale: 7.6/10 | Great | Well above average.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Today we're taking a look at this Uncle Nearest Single Barrel that was picked in 2025 by Branded Barrel! Before this, I had only had samples of the 1856 from Uncle Nearest but never actually owned any of their bottles. I did really enjoy the 1856 though, enough to make me grab this single barrel. Given the recent events surrounding Uncle Nearest, this very could be the only single barrel by them I ever own! But that's a different story for a different day. Let's dive in and see how this one is.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: NAS

Proof: 124.5

Nose: Muted at first with nothing but a heat punch and a mild dose of sweet corn. Giving the glass a swirl is what kick starts the aromas. A peppery spice dominates initially but makes way for cinnamon, vanilla cream, graham crackers, oak, and more sweet corn. Towards the end of the pour, a nice hazelnut starts to come out that I love!

Palate: Medium viscosity of cinnamon, sweet corn, vanilla cream, brown sugar, and some oak. Black pepper, orange zest, and caramel start to come in after a few sips. This one also drinks its proof, some serious heat on the palate with this pour.

Finish: Medium finish of more vanilla cream, caramel, tobacco, and a lingering ginger spice.

I really like the finish on this one! It has a good balance of dark sweets/earthy tones and the lingering ginger spice on the very tail end is not something I often get on whiskies. Having only tried the 1856 from Uncle Nearest going into this, I had some pretty high expectations for this single barrel and I think it delivers. They could stand to be a little cheaper, so not one I'd keep multiple picks of, but all in all the whiskey still delivers a great pour.

t8ke scale: 7.3/10 | Great | Well above average.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Today we're taking a look at a classic, the EH Taylor Small Batch! This bottle was part of what I called the Buffalo Trace Trifecta over the past few years along with Eagle Rare and Blanton's; bottles that shouldn't be marked up but good luck anyways finding them at retail. That being said, at least in my area, it seems like the Buffalo bubble has popped as you can find these, along with the Wellers, at many spots at or close to retail. So is the standard EH Taylor offering worth it at retail? Let's find out.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: At least 4 years

Proof: 100

Nose: Sweet, bright cherry and baking spices at first with some butterscotch making way after it has sat out for a bit longer. Swirling the glass brings out a pretty decent heat punch followed by more butterscotch, caramel, and oak. That cherry from the initial nosing is starting to come off like a grape note now too.

Palate: Medium viscosity of cherry, vanilla, and oak with the cherry becoming more prevalent after each sip. There is a mild cinnamon-like spice here too, but completely overshadowed by the cherry. Nothing crazy here but it is a pleasant sip.

Finish: Medium finish of vanilla and cherry with a little drying oak on the tail end.

Nothing crazy happening with this one but it's still a very good, pleasant pour. Absolutely not worth any sort of upcharge, but I do think it's a pretty fair value at MSRP and shows off that classic Buffalo Trace profile well. Definitely worth a grab if you're able to track one down at retail.

t8ke scale: 6.5/10 | Very Good | A cut above.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Today we're taking a look at this Four Roses Single Barrel that was picked in 2024 by My Friend's Bottle Shop! This was an insta-buy for me as is pretty much any T5 or T6 Four Roses pick I come across. This barrel in particular is a T6 OESK and consists of Four Roses' low rye mash bill of 75% corn, 20% rye, and 5% malted barley. Let's see how she is.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: 9 years 4 months

Proof: 127.2

Nose: Intense burst of rye bread, cinnamon, brown sugar, and baking spices with a solid oak presence that has a little must to it. Swirling the glass brings out more cinnamon, oak, baking spices, and a dark cherry note. Once the whiskey has had time to sit idle some, a caramel brittle starts to shine. A lot to pick out with the aromas on this and it's all very enjoyable!

Palate: Medium viscosity where it absolutely drinks its proof on the first sip! Dark cherry, brown sugar, cinnamon, and baking spices on the backend. After a few sips, that cherry gets more intense and I start to get vanilla, tobacco, leather, and rye spice.

Finish: Longer side of medium finish of baking spices, brown sugar, cinnamon, leather, mildly drying oak, and a cherry that starts to get a little medicinal towards the end of the pour.

I've yet to have a Four Roses pick that I wasn't all over. To date, this is the best Four Roses pick I've formally reviewed and I can attribute a lot of that to the added proof from it being a Tier 6 barrel. I love how delicate the lower tier barrels can be, but I do lean towards pours that smack you in the face with good flavors and this one delivers on that front. So many different notes you can pick out on both the nose and the palate. Overall an excellent pick and one I'm trying to make last as long as possible!

t8ke scale: 8.7/10 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Today we're checking out batch A124 of the Elijah Craig Barrel Proof! This was, at the time of its release, the youngest batch into the ECBP lineup at 10 years and 9 months and was obviously met with a lot of criticism, especially from those who are big fans of this line and were accustomed to higher age statements. Personally, I also don't like to see age statements trend down, but if the whiskey is still good, I can get over it. Let's see what the A124 is all about.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: 10 years 9 months

Proof: 119

Nose: Chocolate, brown sugar, and charred oak hit at first and is very bold and sweet. Giving the glass a swirl brings out more of your classic bourbon notes along with some cinnamon and red fruits. After the glass has sat out even longer, the oak starts to become more apparent and I get a nutty note that comes across more like some hazelnut.

Palate: Medium viscosity of more charred oak, cinnamon, brown sugar, and a healthy dose of baking spices that coats the palate all over. The intensity of the baking spices starts to settle down some after a few sips and more brown sugar, cinnamon, and leather start to come out along with some caramel.

Finish: Medium finish of leather, cinnamon, brown sugar, and oak. I also get this unusual sharpie note on the very tail end of the finish which is something I've only experienced on lower proof or younger whiskies. Sometimes it even reminds me of chlorine water which doesn't sound appetizing! It's not very strong however, but it is there.

The aromas and palate on this are pretty good and inline with what you'd expect from an Elijah Craig Barrel Proof. However that weird sharpie note on the finish is not at all something I'd expect to get on a whiskey pushing 11 years. That's something I've only ever gotten on 90 or below proof pours that're on the younger side. I don't think it's potent enough to derail this pour, just a small thing I notice on the finish, but it does prevent the A124 from reaching the great levels that ECBP batches usually reach for me.

t8ke scale: 6.4/10 | Very Good | A cut above.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Today we're taking a look at this Jack Daniel's Single Barrel Barrel Proof Rye that was picked in 2024 by the good fellas at Brown Water Select! No secret that I've been a huge fan of their picks over the past few years and I remember being beyond hyped when they announced they were doing a Jack Rye pick. This one is on its last legs, so had to get a review out! This pick comes from barrel house 1-09 and was bottled on April 5th, 2024. Let's see how she is.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: NAS

Proof: 133

Nose: You know what you're getting with these Jack Daniel's Barrel Proof Rye picks. Rich and bold, rye spice, banana bread, brown sugar, tobacco, and a mild peanut brittle. Giving the glass a swirl brings out a big rye spice punch followed by more brown sugar, banana bread, and tobacco. The aromas on these never disappoint.

Palate: Very thick, syrupy-like on the palate of molasses, brown sugar, banana bread, and charred oak. After a few sips, tobacco and a mild floral note starts to come out which is interesting. Nose pretty much entirely carries over here which is a great thing.

Finish: Long finish of molasses, brown sugar, bananas, and a lingering rye spice.

I don't know what it is about these barrel proof picks from Jack Daniel's, but I've yet to have one that I wouldn't score highly. Bourbon or rye. The flavors are always so rich, intense, and there is some heat, but they never come off to me as being too hot. To me, the only distillery or brand that comes close to having this level of consistently great single barrels would be Four Roses. This pick is another home run from Jack Daniel's and the fellas at Brown Water Select.

t8ke scale: 8.5/10 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Up next, we're taking a look at the Bardstown Discovery Series 13! This was a new twist from Bardstown and their Discovery Series as this was the first time double oaking was used in the blend. Series 13 features a blend of the following:

• 45% 9 Year Kentucky, 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley
• 22% 9 Year Kentucky, 78% corn, 10% rye, 12% malted barley
• 20% 15 year Kentucky, 75% corn, 13% rye, 12% malted barley
• 13% 8 year Kentucky, 70% corn, 21% rye, 9% malted barley

Bardstown notes that about 60% of the blend was finished in new American White Oak while the other 40% was finished in Hungarian Oak. As always with these Bardstown releases, you get all this info on the side of the bottle which we all appreciate! Let's see how she is.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: Blend of 8-15 year bourbons

Proof: 110.8

Nose: Dark and rich. Stewed fruits, apple pie, vanilla, and a mild nuttiness presents itself in a wonderful way. Swirling the glass brings out dark cherry, oak, and that nuttiness from earlier but now it comes across as hazelnut. Throughout all of this though there is something funky about it. I would imagine it's from the Hungarian Oak, and it's not off-putting for me, but there is something there I can't quite put my finger on.

Palate: Wow, that first sip brings a ton of baking spices at the very front of the palate that I wasn't expecting! Medium viscosity of cinnamon, baking spices, vanilla, and a drying oak. Even before the finish starts to kick in, the mid-back palate is already drying up. After a few sips, some dark fruits from the nose starts to settle in.

Finish: Medium finish of Luxardo cherry, baking spices, and a very drying oak.

This might be the most palate drying I've ever experienced on a bottle of whiskey before. While not the best Disco I've had, I really appreciate Bardstown attempting something new with the series. If I had one complaint, I just wish the dark fruits from the nose carried over more to the palate. I think that really would've set this one off. This won't be for every one, particularly those who don't like whiskies that have a very dry feel to them, but I think overall this is still a great release from Bardstown! Looking forward to seeing how the Disco 14 turns out.

t8ke scale: 7.5/10 | Great | Well above average.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.

Today we're checking out release 2 of ASW's Fiddler Chin Music! Braves are an absolute wagon right now so I thought now would be a great time to revisit this! ASW and the Braves work very closely with one another and this release came soon after ASW opened their own location at The Battery behind the Braves' stadium. This is an MGP 51/49 rye that follows a similar process as their Georgia Heartwoods with using staves of Georgia Oak that ASW harvested themselves, but with a little extra. They also use maple wood from baseball bats that're hand-charred before being placed in the barrels. This is a unique and very interesting approach, especially if you're a big Braves fan like myself, to finishing whiskey. Let's dive in and see what she's about.

Taken: Neat in a Glencairn, rested for 10 minutes.

Age: NAS

Proof: 110.2

Nose: Sweet and inviting nose of maple, cinnamon, and brown sugar up front followed by caramel, oak, and a subtle rye spice. Swirling the glass brings out more oak and a heavy nutmeg.

Palate: Mildly oily mouthfeel of brown sugar, caramel, cinnamon, and maple. After a few sips, some rye spice starts to show on the backend. Relatively simple, but tasty nonetheless.

Finish: Medium finish of cinnamon, rye spice, caramel, and oak. Towards the end of the pour, I start to get a heavier rye spice on the finish with some tobacco.

I wish this one had a little bit more on the palate in terms of viscosity, but overall this is a very good pour in my book and a great conversation bottle when sharing with my local Braves buds about the process ASW uses for these releases. There have since been newer, 8 year age stated Chin Music releases from ASW that I want to dive into next!

t8ke scale: 6.9/10 | Very Good | A cut above.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average.

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite.

10 | Perfect | Perfect.