MrWizard's Ramblings

MPG is one of the largest US distillers doing all sorts of spirits, from vodka to rye to bourbon. https://en.wikipedia … /wiki/MGP_of_Indiana. Today we’ll look at a trio of 5 year old single cask picks from their stock bottled under Smooth Ambler Old Scout label.

Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown

Smooth Ambler Old Scout K&L Pick #23786
https://www.klwines.com/p/i?i=1476110
Nose: Perfume, light wood and burnt sugar. The nose leans towards lighter cologne notes on this one. The usual slightly sour note that’s typical of bourbons is there in pleasant form. In this case… I’ll say plum jam with these bottles.
Taste: Light, sweet, woody, spicy, fading into savory. Really delicious and balanced to the razor’s edge of perfection. A slightly tannic bitterness sets in after some time in the glass that sticks around.
Aftertaste: Very much in-line with the palate flavors. Nothing overwhelms and all those flavors last for a while.
Overall: Fantastic, easy drinking. This is a well-concentrated bourbon that at the same time feels light and full of perfume. It is extremely balanced and enjoyable anytime.
Score: A-

Smooth Ambler Old Scout PlumpJack Pick
https://plumpjackwin … gth-high-rye-bourbon
Nose: Cologne and wood galore. Nosing it side by side with KnL’s sample… I’d almost describe the above as delicate and this one as bold. Less sugar, more wood and spice. Darker, more caramel forward, still some plum jam in there.
Taste: Tons of wood and leather, still sugar and spices of course, it wouldn’t be a bourbon otherwise. Still pleasant, but this one is much punchier in comparison, as expected from the nose. There’s much more wood on this one.
Aftertaste: Wood and spices; wood and spices. Long and pleasant… Very even across the entire time, nothing fades of overwhelms… of that wood and spice notes and toasted sugary caramel.
Overall: Another fantastic barrel pick. Both of these are great examples of high rye excellent stock picks. This one is woodier and has more cologne on the nose and mouth vs the K&L example while still maintaining most of the same base notes. The balance is quite different here and it focuses on different note dominance which is perfectly fine as it would fare quite well depending on the pairing, in the same way that different types of pinot pair up with different foods.
Score: A-

Final word:
It’s a TIE! Let’s be honest, these are fantastic. Both barrels are from the same MGP 5 year stock and yet they both have their own unique character. I initially gave both an A- score and then I kept on wondering on why give them a minus and honestly, I have no reasons to grade them so. Both are great. In many ways I judge bottles on whether or not I’d want to get another bottle of it and the answer here, I already did and that’s for me the highest compliment that I can provide. You may wonder, which one is better? Well the answer is ‘neither’… they’re both good in their own subtle way. PlumpJack pick has that heavy wood and spice punchiness that’s great with colder weather, campfires, BBQ and steaks. KnL pick is providing that razor’s edge of flavor balance that’s somewhat different experience that is also fantastic on its own and neither one is lacking in anything that I can judge against them. If these are the only two bourbons I’d get to drink ever again… I’d be mostly satisfied as neither have any flaws that I can detect.

For today’s post it’s going to be something different. I’ll be tasting and rating 5 easily available bottles from Heaven Hill distillery. None of these are hard to find and none of these are very expensive. These are the samples for a recent tasting I did that was a great introduction to Heaven Hill range of flavors and bottlings. The bottle notes are copied from the sample labels that were provided for me. They are written down and read after I’ve made up my mind on the spirit. Also whoever wrote these, I love your use of Oxford comma!

Scoring Breakdown: https://www.aerin.or … age=scores_breakdown

Evan Williams Single Barrel
Bottle Notes
Color: Delicate amber gold
Aroma: Dark caramel, sweet oak, and charred wood
Taste: Lush and spicy, oak with honey apple, and orange notes
Finish: Long, graceful, and relaxed
My Thoughts:
Only single barrel of the evening, this will vary slightly year to year. Sweet, mentholy and not overcomplicated, yet enjoyable with nice finish. A quintessential Heaven Hill bourbon without any gimmicks.
Score: B-

Larceny
Bottle Notes
Color: Bright new copper
Aroma: Fresh bread and toffee, with notes of butterscotch
Taste: Buttery caramel and honey, with a rich mouthfeel
Finish: Long, gently sweet, and savory
My Thoughts:
Surprisingly tastier than the single barrel Larceny I have. Very delicate sweet spirit with somewhat bitter finish. The finish does thankfully fade into wheat sweetness and lingers for a long time. Does get better while drinking it. Not a fan of the beginning but really enjoying the tail end of this one.
Score: C+

Fighting Cock Bourbon
Bottle Notes
Color: Deep Amber
Aroma: Caramel with hints of oak, vanilla, and barley
Taste: Hints of hazelnut, honey and black licorice
Finish: Long and sweet with a trace of heat
My Thoughts:
Somewhat silly brand name, but I digress. Oooooh… This one I like. Sweet and robust, this drinks like a better version of Evan Williams from above… This is actually really good and worth trying. The slight menthol note still seems to be there but balances quite well into the overall spirit. I expect the menthol is something that’s a signature style of the distillery/yeast/mash. Some googling later… THIS COSTS $15!!!??? Buy it, buy it now!
Score: B+ (B)
Update after getting a bottle: I’ve moved the grade up to B+. This is extremely and dangerously drinkable as it almost perfectly aligns with what I want out of a bourbon palate. I paid $20 for the bottle. No regrets!

Rittenhouse 100 Rye
Bottle Notes
Color: Mahogany
Aroma: Dried fruits, toffee, and sweet peppers
Taste: Clean, rich, cocoa, citrus, cinnamon, nutmeg, and vanilla
Finish: Lingering maple-like spiciness
My Thoughts:
Overall, not a fan. Mashbill is only 51% rye grain and it shows. This may as well be a generic high rye bourbon from the flavor. Sticky, long, and enjoyable aftertaste with rye notes finally asserting dominance. Somewhat drinkable, but not something I’d choose straight. I’m aware it’s great for mixing, don’t drink it neat, kids, mix this one away!
Score: D

Pikesville Rye
Bottle Notes
Color: Pale Copper
Aroma: Dusty cocoa notes with oaky smoke underneath
Taste: Dry and spicy, with honeyed rye and cloves
Finish: Soft vanilla and baking spices
My Thoughts:
Definitely proper rye flavors vs Rittenhouse. The floor varnish is strong with one. Very dark and brooding rye. It’s quite drinkable solo, but I’d still prefer this in a mixed drink.
Score: B-
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Winners of the lineup: Pikesville Rye and Fighting Cock Bourbon!

Time to get back into the swing of things. It’s been almost a month since my last review posted. COVID is still outside. I keep on buying and opening bourbon bottles… yet no reviews are forthcoming? What gives? Well, it’s simple: I’m LAZY!

Lets get few of the easier ones out of the way though, especially now that I got my new grading system.

Oola Waitsburg Bourbon Cask Strength Total Wine Single Barrel (what a mouth-full)
This gets the distinction of my first ever grade score. On the nose, pure vanilla extract and same on the palate. Very little wood influence and if someone told me this was a vanilla flavored whiskey, I’d not be surprised. Very sweet and high sugar content with little else to back it up even at 116 proof. Its borderline undrinkable straight and I wish I didn’t buy it. Darn you pretty bottle! This is going directly its awful bottles cabinet. You’ll love it if you love vanilla flavor. May be okay in some sort of bourbon glaze, but we’re not here to judge alcohol on their cooking ability.
Score: D-

Moylan’s Cask Strength Bourbon
No age statement but the worlds “Finished, Blended & Bottled in Petaluma, CA” (Local to me) got my attention. The label is actually confusing, as it talks about Stillwater Spirits and Moylan’s Distilling company… Also there’s a mention of toasted coconuts… and I like those. Well, maybe a hidden gem? The good news: the nose does have that toasted coconut covered in caramel and so does the palate. Bad news: unfortunately everything is ruined by somewhat dill-like soapy aftertaste. I really wanted to love this one. It’s from local Californian distiller, 112.6 proof, though drinks hotter than that, and nose and palate are good-to-great… But the aftertaste just ruins it for me and it all falls apart. Certainly an interesting one to nose and maybe worth trying, but this is going to be my mixed-drink fodder. I can keep sniffing the glass all day and I’m sure some may like drinking it, but I’m finding myself doing anything I can to avoid that aftertaste. Very good after some bitters or a touch of amaro.
Score: C

New Riff Bourbon K&L Store Pick Cask Strength #15-5848
Lets get few things out of the way: I love their bottle design! It screams ‘awesome’ at reasonable price. Specs on my bottle: 111.6 proof, aged at least 4 years. Young-ish, high rye recipe, sour mash bourbon. Nose: rye spice and toasted coconuts (again? yes I did rinse the glass after Moylan’s!). This one leans towards woody coconuts that are consistent from nose to palate to a decently long aftertaste. Ever licked a fresh bourbon barrel? I can see why it was bottled. The wood is starting to take over as an influence on the spirit, thankfully bourbon has enough of a backbone to mostly carry it. One of those bottles for wood lovers and the spirit’s age is a somewhat unfortunate trade off. Few more years while maintaining the fine balance would make these single cask bottles the stuff of legend! As mine stands, it’s a really good coconut/vanilla/wood/age profile that is reasonable but not perfect. I’d still drink this all night, no problem!
Score: B+

Belle Meade Cask Strength Batch 13 — 56% — MSRP ~$60
Nose: High alcohol burn. Charred wood. Bits of varnish. This thing is highly octane and active on the nose. The usual wood and spices are there. Some notes of sweet cherry jam. Oddly, I’m starting associate that those cherry notes on the nose with Buffalo Trace character or occasional Old Forester.
Taste: Drinks as if its higher proof. I cannot quite believe its only 56%. Tasting blindly, I’d give it fairly easy mid-60s. Fairly uncomplicated bourbon here other than high flavor concentration and proof. The usual bourbon notes play, wood and spices galore. Wood is a little overwhelming and gives it almost bitter taste. Unfortunately the wood and spices strangle wonderful vanilla sweet notes that are trying to get out but just cannot pull from the undercurrent.
Aftertaste: Medium long and more wooden bitterness with sweet vanilla finally winning towards the very end.
With Water: This becomes highly drinkable once somewhat tamed, alcohol is still present but now is more of a pleasant warmth than a bonfire. Still that woody bitterness remains and water does not coax more vanilla forward. Adding water to this one is a good idea, but it does not bring a drastic improvement.
Overall: It’s somewhat like Elijah Craig Barrel Proof… but more interesting, maybe, depending on the batch. If you like ECBP, you’ll love this. It would be appreciated by those who like high octane bourbons that lack substance behind the second curtain. Would I get a bottle? No.
Score: N/A

“Joseph Magnus” Straight Bourbon Whiskey finished in Sherry and Cognac — 50% — MSRP ~$100
Nose: Good balance. Alcohol takes a backseat on the nose. Dark perfume notes as are usually present in good bottles. Quite pleasant and very complex. A good nose overall. Sherry is definitely there and playing nice with bourbon character.
Taste: Oh this one I like in my mouth. A whiskey drinker’s drink this is. It’s not particularly something ’special’ to write about but I can see it trying to bridge that gap between sherried scotch and bourbons. Of course it lacks enough age and palate complexity to truly succeed, though it certainly tries. Sherry is definitely present and very much appreciated in the mouth.
Aftertaste: Medium, bordering on short in length and mostly sherry dominated. Corn sweetness is there somewhere but with sherry it takes a backseat. It’s a shame as the aftertaste feels like it’s missing a bit of punchiness and duration, once sherry fades, its done.
With Water: No strong changes one way or another. This being an original 100 proof may as well leave the water out of it.
Overall: Very well balanced on the nose and palate. This regular release is quite enjoyable, and while not too complex it would go lovely any time of day with a good conversation around a firepit. It is a mouth pleaser that does not overcomplicate the brain. The aftertaste is a letdown for me, but if one were to continuously sip at the glass, I can see it working. Would I offer one to a friend or as a present? Yes. Would I get a bottle to drink myself? Not going to be my first choice.

Update: Due to Joseph Magnus being sourced, it is typically distilled at either MGP (Indiana) or Dickel (Tennessee). It is thankfully indicated on the label which state it is distilled in. Dickel ones are generally considered inferior to the MGP ones and I can see why. Trying a Dickel sample, it is very peanutty, which doesn’t quite mesh well with sherry/cognac fruits. Check the label for the state!!!
Score: N/A

Okay. Here’s the thing, there are way too many bottles out there and plenty of bottles that are not worth writing a long post about. I’ll still be documenting things I try, but if it’s not something interesting, expect a short blurb. I’ll write something more substantial for bottles that I find tasty. My posts, my rules as it were.

Old Carter’s Bourbon Batch #5
Nose: Dark perfume. Slightly subdued/muted. Dark cherry jam. I’m looking forward to this one…
Taste: So much dark cherry jam on this one. Can I call it cherry pie? Oddly feels in part like Buffalo Trace output with the sweet cherries. It’s wow good. The high proof is there but it doesn’t fight too much with the flavor.
Aftertaste: As typical with bourbons, caramelized cherry pie continues from the palate and lasts about medium length. With sweetness winning over bitterness. A thumbs up from me on this front.
With Water: Boy, why am I putting water into perfectly drinkable bourbon, again? More cinnamon now together with cherry if you’re into that kinda stuff. The nose opens up, though that may have been time in a glass.
Overall: What the heck does Old Carter’s do with their barrels!? This is my second bottle of their whiskey and its super yum all over. Still, I’m questioning the price with zero transparency, or the price in general. Would I drink a bottle? Yes! At MSRP ~$200? I’d want it to be someone else’s bottle.
Score: N/A

A side note for Old Carter’s: So far I’m two for two in excellent bottles. I would love to score them at highest marks (and I’m not scoring things yet, though perhaps I should)… But both bottles and my appreciation of them are borderline crippled by their availability as well as their price. I don’t want to pay $200+ to get a highly elusive limited release with zero transparency bourbon that I genuinely enjoy amid the sea of other offerings. I should not be required to do that in the first place. Get your shit together bourbon producers!

Doc Swinson’s 15 KnL SP
Note: This is something out of Heaven Hill Stills. I suspected it being Elijah Craig but its too balanced so its likely Heaven Hill instead. (After trying regular Heaven Hill 7 BiB… its not Main Heaven Hill Mash… that’s for sure)

Nose: Wood and sugar. A bit of alcohol burn. Slight menthol notes, bit of eucalyptus. Old timey wooden basement with leather furniture.
Taste: You know what, its bourbon. This one happens to be sweet and woody and well balanced. Very fine cinnamon notes, barely any. For 118 proof, there’s low alcohol burn in the mouth which is another plus.
With Water: More sugar, less bitterness, pleasing. Few drops could do well to tame the alcohol.
Aftertaste: Good aftertaste with more of the same. A little more peppery spice on the back and the aftertaste does last for quite a while so that’s a pleasant surprise.
Overall: It’s better balanced and less octane Elijah Craig Cask Strength… almost certainly it’s 15 years old Heaven Hill. It’s woody, sweet and full of perfume. Quite tasty but not worth the $155 price tag. I can see paying $100 for a bottle. Buy a bottle @MSRP? No. Too boring for myself, but I can see enjoying splitting one with a friend over a fire pit if they paid for it.
Score: N/A

Elijah Craig K&L SiB (#5711840)
Decent balance between sweetness and a tiny bit of rye spice. Somewhat thin palate, not enough oomph. Very versatile because it doesn’t overwhelm in any way. Works well with food, but not particularly interesting on its own.
Score: N/A

John E. Fitzgerald “Larceny” K&L SiB (#6196278)
Disappointing and totally not what I was expecting. What was I expecting? I don’t know but it wasn’t … that. Boring woody nose, at 92 proof, thin body, little flavor beyond lots of wheat sweetness and once past that sweetness there’s essentially nothing. No substance to this one for me. This bottle is going to end up in some home blend I expect. Mixes very well with high rye barrel proofs.

Update few weeks later: This is growing on me. It’s still not mindblowing in most ways but after oxidation this got a palate and an aftertaste that’s enjoyable enough at the end of the night. Really should have been a 100+ proof.
Score: N/A

Four Roses “Single Barrel” OBSV
Drinkable Four Roses at 100 proof. Flowery and has a decent taste. Good standby if nothing else is available by being reasonably balanced, but not fantastically outstanding for my palate. (I’m a tough judge and want something ‘interesting’ out of every bottle.) Overall tasty and worth keeping around, but not enough of a substance to write a long blurb about.
Score: N/A