u/NoNutWinner

In the glass: Dragon’s Milk Origin Toasted Barrel Batch 2025C, Finished in Toasted Oak and Applejack barrels

Distillery: New Holland Distilling

ABV: 61.9%

Proof: 123.8

Age: Non Age Stated

Mashbill: 70% corn, 25% malted barley, 5% rye

Nose: Sweet cinnamon apples, the standard new holland funk that gives way to hi chew candy, toasted marshmallows, and a bit of vanilla. Green apple jolly rancher and Apple Jacks is the closest I can describe it to.

Palate: It’s like if there was a green apple hi chew I was sipping on, toasted marshmallows with that campfire esque note. It’s like an apple pie, but not a fresh one, like if you were to get an old one on clearance from the grocery store. Coats the palate well, fairly viscous in the glass.

Finish: The hug shows up towards the end of the finish, apple pie shows up, some pot still funk, a dash of nutmeg.

Final thoughts: This is enjoyable but not something I’ll be buying another of, tastes like Apple Jacks in a glass. It’s well worth buying one the first go round, if you love toasted products you’d probably really enjoy this one.

Rating: 7.1/10

In the glass: Rebecca Creek Double Barrel Whiskey “Spec’s Wine & Spirits”, Barrel #200023

Distillery: Rebecca Creek (Sourced MGP)

ABV: 55.6%

Proof: 111.2

Age: 5 years

Mashbill: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley

Nose: The nose is really quite nice, it smells like a root beer float with vanilla bean ice cream, oak, hot caramel, sarsaparilla, and vanilla.

Palate: The palate falls a bit short, the oak is there, the root beer is still there but muted, and it’s got a bit of French toast stick with maple syrup going on. The downfall of this one is its mouthfeel, it’s like having a sip of flavored water. Little to no viscosity with this pour.

Finish: There’s a nice hug of brown sugar, sweet oak, more of that root beer float going on. It’s got a decent finish, 10-15 second hug, nothing wild but it’s good.

Final thoughts: This does not stack up against the Spanish double oak whatsoever but at the price I got it for, I’m happy. I had a friend help me acquire this one on sale for a cool $35! It’s worth that to me, what it does, it does well. It’s not overly complex or packing the flavor of a Parker’s DBB or 13th colony DO, but for a 5 year product, it’s good.

Rating: 6.7/10

In the glass: Stagg Jr Batch 15

Distillery: Buffalo Trace

ABV: 65.55%

Proof: 131.1

Age: Non Age Stated

Mashbill: Buffalo Trace Mashbill 1

Nose: You’re greeted with luxardo cherry, brown sugar, oak, caramel, vanilla, some nice baking spices, and a hint of leather. It just smells like good mashbill 1 from Buffalo Trace, solid stuff.

Palate: The palate follows with decadent cherries jubilee, what tastes like the red and pink starburst combination, loads of brown sugar, there’s some cherry jolly rancher that’s a bit sour, some good old oak. You can chew on it, this is a good one to sit with for a while, there is some heat but that can be expected. Little bit of grape creeps in towards the back of the palate. The brown sugar tastes like what you’ll get on a really good cinnamon roll swirl bread.

Finish: This sticks around and delivers almost the same of everything I’ve already mentioned. Cherry, leather, oak that turns a bit sour but not in a bad way, a bit of tobacco, burned brown sugar. It hangs around for a bit, not an overly long finish but by no means a slacker. Probably 45-1 minute of finish with 30 seconds of Kentucky hug. It’s very good, doesn’t punch you like other batches I’ve had.

Final thoughts: This is a stellar old batch of Stagg and it shows that. Rich cherries, brown sugar, layered oak… I don’t have much time with this one left as it has probably 4, maybe 5 more pours left in it and has been open a good while but I sure have enjoyed it. It is better for me than most new batches of Stagg in the last 2 years besides 18 and 22A. If you find one of these for a reasonable price, new or old batches, buy it, I doubt you’ll be disappointed.

Rating: 8.3/10

In the glass: Hard Truth Sweet Mash Rye Single Barrel “Shores Wolfpack”, Barrel #19-1069, Rackhouse No. 2

Distillery: Hard Truth Distilling Co.

ABV: 61.5%

Proof: 123

Age: 5 years 4 months

Mashbill: 94% rye, 6% malted barley

Nose: I’m getting maple syrup, a hint of rye spice, bomb pop, cherry, orange citrus, and the twinge of a lemonhead.

Palate: Nice rich oak, rye spice, cherry, vanilla, some brown sugar, there’s a hint of pine that comes in and out of the sip, and some tingling citrus.

Finish: It has a nice hug on it that lends to clove, some drying oak, vanilla, and a bit of some orange candies.

Final thoughts: This is a tasty pick from Hard Truth and Degenerate Wolfpack! My first Hard Truth pick but certainly not my last if they’re consistently like this. I remember paying 75 out the door after taxes and I think that is a great price for this pick, pick one up if you’re wanting to try something new!

Rating: 7.3/10

In the glass: 13th Colony 15th Anniversary Cask Strength Bourbon

Distillery: Produced and Bottled by 13th Colony

ABV: 69.6%

Proof: 139.2

Age: 8 Years 9 Months

Mashbill: Undisclosed

Nose: This is like a berry reduction sauce, there’s dark fruits here, creme brulee, brown sugar, honey, almost a hint of orange.

Palate: I’m getting dates, plums, tart dark fruits, there’s immense viscosity in this pour with it coating the mouth entirely. Nice oak that brings with it spice and a lovely hint of char. It’s wild but I’m getting almost a blueberry muffin note the longer I sit with the pour, it’s extremely sugary.

Finish: Those same dark fruits come through on the finish with barrel char, tobacco, and some lovely oak. Very reminiscent of some older MGP bottles I’ve tried and it is so good.

Final thoughts: This is a sample provided from a good friend and I’m willing to say that anyone who has one just needs to send it my way for disposal! This is seriously complex whiskey that packs a punch of flavor but for the proof it is tame. I could be fooled into thinking this is in the 115 proof range. Buy them if you see it but I’m sure they’re long gone!

Rating: 8.8/10

In the glass: Old Louisville Double Oak Single Barrel “Shores/Degenerate Wolfpack”

Distillery: Old Louisville (MGP)

ABV: 58%

Proof: 116

Age: 8 Years

Mashbill: 75% Corn, 21% Rye, 4% Malted Barley

Nose: Vanilla Custard, sweet oak, some caramel, it’s not harsh at all. Some nice milk chocolate, smells like a hersheys kiss with some root beer zing the longer it sits.

Palate: Vanilla pudding, sea salt caramel, sarsaparilla, some bitter oak (it’s enjoyable).

Finish: It sneaks up on you, more of that bitter oak becomes drying, it’s got a root beer esque viscosity, alright finish. Definitely a double oaked product, decent oils.

Final thoughts: This is a decent double oaked product, every note that you can think of is there. Not an overly complex pour but hits most double oak notes I’m looking for. Barrel proof DO is always good and this is no different. If you can find them at retail, it’s a buy in my opinion.

Rating: 6.7/10

In the glass: Shortbarrel Cask Strength Single Barrel, “Bourbon Together: Rocky’s Pick” Lot Code 17H15

Distillery: Shortbarrel (sourced O.Z. Tyler for this pick)

ABV: 63.1%

Proof: 126.2

Age: 7 years 7 months

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

Nose: Sweet oak, hints of red fruit, confectionary sugar, caramel, and the pink starburst.

Palate: Onto the palate and here comes some spice with that O.Z. Tyler rye and red fruit I enjoy. It’s strawberry and pink startburst, this thing has some candy sweetness going on and I’m here for it.

Finish: There’s more of that sweet oak, it’s kind of tangy now, like a bit of the wax wrapper on a starburst (probably still thinking about the ones sitting in my pantry), and a hint of milk chocolate. This stays with you and has a good hug, just not a hug that grabs you. The more I sit with it, it’s pink laffy taffy on the finish instead of starburst.

Final thoughts: Another pick from the Facebook bourbon group I’m in, Bourbon Together, and it’s a tasty one. This is the groups eleventh pick and it’s good. The main theme with this one is sweet with a bit of bite from the proof and oak. I have a backup and I’m happy about that. This one is tasty and if you haven’t tried any of the many many variations of O.Z. Tyler out there on the market today, do yourself a favor and buy one.

Rating: 7.4/10

In the glass: Dettling Cask Strength Single Barrel “Mississippi Sippers, Spillway Wine and Spirits”

Distillery: Big Escambia Spirits

ABV: 57.20%

Proof: 114.40

Age: 6 Years 2 Months

Mashbill: 70% corn, 15% rye, 12% oat, 3% roasted assorted grains (chocolate malted rye, caramel malted barley, malted wheat)

Nose: This doesn’t smell as dark as Dettling usually does. Lots of brown sugar and caramel chews, almost a touch of cherry, some nice rich oak. This is almost as sweet as a nice rum on the nose.

Palate: There’s the rich cocoa, tobacco, rye spice, some more of that cherry. It’s got a nice amount of tingling all over the tongue and up the gums. Not as dark as I would’ve thought for an older product out of dettling. A tad bit of baking spices and cinammon on the end of the sip.

Finish: It rolls in waves with rich mocha, some more oak, cinnamon, stewed cherries. Not the craziest finish but it’s a rich one, the more this opens up and sits in the glass the better it gets. Some good heat on the backend and a decent hug. This is the kind of barrel proof pour that’s decadent, not necessarily big and bold. I’m getting almost a stewed pear on the back end, intriguing.

Final thoughts: The older these Dettlings get, the more they gain a rum like darkness and cherries that only come out on these older releases. If I could have a case I’d find a way, but this release is longggg gone so I’ll settle with the one I have.

Rating: 8/10

In the glass: Larrikin Single Barrel “Degenerate Wolfpack/Shores Fine Wine & Spirits”, Barrel #FL-1

Distillery: Larrikin Bourbon Company (have been told this is sourced Barton)

ABV: 59.9%

Proof: 119.8

Age: 9 years

Mashbill: 75% corn, 21% rye, 4% malted barley

Nose: On the nose I get oak and baking spices, it’s got a nice amount of nutmeg. It’s hitting me almost like a strudel bakery sweetness with vanilla, what smells like a frosting that’s had time to harden, and a hint of cherry.

Palate: This comes through with more of that vanilla but adds in a hint of brown sugar sweetness, a touch of cherry, and more old oak. I’m getting brown sugar pop tart the more I sip on it.

Finish: It’s got a nice hug, not exactly one that grabs you by the chest, but it gives enough to sit with you for a while. Oak, vanilla, and nutmeg. Not overly complex but what it does, it does well.

Final thoughts: This is mighty tasty, my first couple pours with it were questionable but it has opened up nicely. This is rumored to be 9 year Barton, if so, kudos to Barton.

Rating: 7.4/10

In the glass: 1792 Full Proof Single Barrel “Chasers”, Barrel #9667

Distillery: Barton 1792

ABV: 62.5%

Proof: 125

Age: 8 years

Mashbill: 74% corn, 18% rye, 8% malted barley

Nose: I’m getting powdered sugar sweetness, sweet and spicy oak, little bit of caramel, and a hint of cherry cough drop.

Palate: There’s definitely that full proof heat, little bit of muddled cherry sweetness, some caramel creeps through, more of that oak. Lotta ethanol and heat, more than I ear hoping for with the age. The nose is better than the palate to me.

Finish: Nice hug on this one, it’s got oak presence, caramel, some sweetness.

Final thoughts: This 1792 full proof pick is decent but does not blow my socks off. I think that this has great value at msrp but they lack depth in most cases. Heat, a hint of cherry, and oak. I’m most likely passing on all the ones I see in the future unless I try them before I buy.

Rating: 6.7/10

In the glass: Peerless Double Oak Single Barrel “KBF 2025 - Vintage Malt Cup”

Distillery: Peerless

ABV: 56.05%

Proof: 112.1

Age: NAS but rumored around 8 years

Mashbill: Sweet Mash; At Least 51% Corn, Rye (Approx. 3x As Much Rye As Standard Mashbill) And Malted Barley

Nose: Chocolate, oak tannins, leather, definite malt ball like the label shows. Barrel impact and rich oak complete the experience.

Palate: The palate leads to some white pepper, dark chocolate and sea salt, some pipe tobacco, little bit of cherry comes in for a few seconds and fades out just as fast, loads of rich oak, some nice char… Towards the back of the palate it heads into lava cake.

Finish: This leads with oak tannins, some nice heat from that char, some more of that peppery spice, leather, and chocolate.

Final thoughts: This is the Peerless Single Barrel Double Oak “2025 KY Bourbon Fest”. The uniqueness of double oaks brings out the sweeter flavors in life and this one is no different because of all those decadent flavors it leads with. Truly this is a gem and reminds me of the likes of dettling and Rebecca creek Spanish double oak. If you find these, buy them, they are special.

Rating: 8.2/10

In the glass: Ben Holladay Single Barrel “Degenerate Wolfpack - The Lone Wolf”, Lot 17C08 Barrel #2689, Rickhouse C, Floor 5, Rick 2 Tier 3

Distillery: Holladay Distillery

ABV: 62.55%

Proof: 125.1

Age: 7 years, 8 months

Mashbill: 73% corn, 15% rye, 12% malted barley

Nose: Watermelon sour patch kids, cherry, sweet oak, and confectionery sugar. Getting a bit of nutmeg, that’s a nice note. This is nice and sweet.

Palate: Heads straight into robust oak, barrel char, oak tannins, caramel, little hint of chocolate. Medicinal cherries become more and more prevalent throughout the sip.

Finish: Oak tannins, burnt caramel, barrel char, some hints of toast even tho it isn’t toasted.

Final thoughts: I really enjoy this pick from Degenerate Wolfpack, this is my first Holladay product but won’t be my last. I think it’s a great value for the price and is a ECBP and/or Stagg competitor. If your local group or store does a pick of this, grab one, you might like it!

Rating: 7.4/10