Puncher's Chance The D12stance - Review

Stats

Puncher's Chance - The D12stance

Wolf Spirit Distillery - Eugene, Oregon

Straight Tennessee Bourbon Whiskey

Finished in California Cabernet Sauvignon Barrels

Aged 12 Years

96 Proof

Distilled in Tennessee

Mash Bill: 84% Corn, 8% Rye, 8% Malted Barley

Retail Price: $120

Limited to 70 Barrels

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Tawny

Nose: Earthy, Dark Red Wine, Creamy Corn, Black Pepper, Toasted Oak

Palate: Ripe Cherry, Vanilla, Leather, Citrus Zest, A touch of Chocolate

Finish: Medium Linger with a Warm, Sweet and Viscous mouthfeel.

Overall: I'd be lying if I told you I wasn't surprised by this second offering from Puncher's Chance. From my experience, the finishing of bourbon is usually done on a more youthful distillate, but here we have a 12 year finished bourbon. It works! The Cab creates an entirely unique experience when it comes to the palate. The more I sip, the more the flavors of Dark Cherry, Vanilla and Leather dance around with a beautiful Citrus Zest. I'm leaning towards a Blood Orange type flavor, but that keeps changing the more I dig deeper. The great folks at Puncher's Chance actually sent me a 100mL bottle to review, (and I'm super thankful), but that just wasn't enough as I kept sipping with a smile on my face. I immediately browsed their website and secured a full bottle just based on those few sips I had. I'm very happy I made that decision. The bottle design is gorgeous and stands out perfectly. I'm ready to go the Distance!

Library Rating: 8.4 / 10

Company Distilling Straight Bourbon Finished with Maple Wood - Review

Stats

Company Distilling

Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Finished with Maple Wood

NAS - 3 Years Minimum

90 Proof

Produced and Bottled by Company Distilling

Columbus, Ohio

Mash Bill: Various - Blended Wheated Mash

Retail Price: $60

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Deep Cooper

Nose: Light Fruits, Honey, Toasted Caramel, Vanilla

Palate: Slight Butterscotch, Warm Brown Sugar And Cinnamon Apples, Honey, Maple Syrup, Touch of Oak

Finish: Wonderful Mouthfeel. Maple and Oak coating with a Warm Medium Linger.

Overall: “Gather Around” is the motto on the back of this bottle. It couldn’t be more to the point and depict exactly what this hobby/obsession is all about. Whiskey drinking has come a long way, but when all is said and done, it should bring folks together. A vessel, if you will, to break the ice, to sit and sip after a long day, or my favorite, a gathering amongst friends. This is the perfect balance of sweet and still bold enough to smack your lips and enjoy sip after sip.

The City of Townsend, Tennessee is the premier setting for Company to have their Tasting Room and Gift Shop built right along the river and at the start of the Smokey Mountains. The vibe is unparalleled. Fresh air, smiling people and in this case, great sipping whiskey. The wife and I had the pleasure of enjoying a lot of what Townsend has to offer during the Grain & Grits Festival this past year (2021). We also had the pleasure to sit down with Company Master Distiller, Jeff Arnett (former Jack Daniel’s Master Distiller) and discuss everything under the sun including this amazing new venture. There is true passion and excitement in his voice when speaking of Company and that means a lot to me. TO Jeff and the entire Team, It’s hard not to get excited for what’s to come. I can tell this is only the start to an amazing journey.

Now, my overall impression on this Wheated Bourbon: The nose and the flavor profile are there. So much is happening with each sip but all circles back to that Maple Finish. The sweet tones from the wheat really drive this home for me. Certainly a bottle to bring around the fire and enjoy amongst friends. I’d be very curious how much more impressive this might be at 100+ Proof, or even Cask Strength? ::Wink Wink::

Library Rating: 8.4 / 10

Barker's Mill Bottled In Bond - Review

Stats

Barker's Mill

Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey

Bottled In Bond

NAS - ~5 Years

100 Proof

Distilled by MB Roland Distillery, Pembroke, Kentucky

Mash Bill: Undisclosed / Various Wheated

Retail Price: $50

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Amber

Nose: Malty at first, and then leads to Vanilla, Honey and Sweet Cream

Palate: Sweet Cream, Frosted Flakes and a touch of Citrus Zest

Finish: Warm, with a Medium Sweet Linger which continues to be inviting throughout

Overall: This was a creamy delight. I'm going to bring you on a quick journey to a memory which was created while sipping: I was around eight years old in my pajamas on a Saturday morning sitting in front of the television set (yes, a TV set) watching Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. I still remember the pastel blue Tupperware bowl I used to use for my cereal. That old bowl, filled to the top with Frosted Flakes and about halfway filled with whole milk is almost exactly the same flavor I get from this 100 Proof. The creaminess rivals the corn and sugar filled milk at the bottom of the bowl. I usually attribute the sweetness of bourbon to the Wheat grain and I will do the same here. This mash is made with Red Winter Wheat and that always brings more sweetness to my palate. I'm a fan of this release and look forward to pairing this with a light cigar on the porch in a few days.

Library Rating: 8.3 / 10