Stellum Bourbon Black - Review

Stats

Stellum Bourbon

Cask Strength Blend of Straight Bourbon Whiskeys

NAS

Distilled in Indiana, Kentucky & Tennessee

Bottled by Stellum Spirits, Louisville, Kentucky

109.22 Proof

Mash Bill: Undisclosed / Blended

Retail Price: $95

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Burnt Amber

Nose: Vanilla, Light Fruits, Powdered Sugar

Palate: Peach Rings, Molasses, Brown Sugar

Finish: Medium Linger with a Sweet, Warm Coating

Overall: To be completely honest, the initial releases of the Stellum lineup (Bourbon & Rye), really didn't do much for me. But like any new product, it's all about going into it with an open mind. I'm glad I used some of my own advice in this case. At first sniff and sip, this comes across a bit sweet. I really do pick up Peach Rings on my palate so please don't crucify me for that tasting note. There is a level of complexity, however, and it threw me off my stride. While this blend starts with a sweet, candy-like approach, it rounds itself out into more of the oak, caramel and vanilla tones we all love in bourbon. The finish is what surprised me the most with this pour. It's quite inviting and lingers long enough to sift through that sweetness and get a bit of a hug on the backend.

Library Rating: 8.2 / 10

Lock Stock & Barrel Vatted Rye - Review

Stats

Lock Stock & Barrel

Vatted Straight Rye Whiskey

Produced and Bottled by R.J. Cooper & Son

Scobeyville, NJ

NAS

100 Proof

Mash Bill: Various / Blended

Origin: Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Indiana and Alberta

Retail Price: $80-90

Poured Neat in a Glencairn

Color: Deep Gold

Nose: Sweet with White Pepper tones. Complex, yet subtle.

Palate: A warm pepper spice which fades to a very smooth and viscous sweetness.

Finish: Long, Warm and Viscous.

Overall: I am quite impressed by this expression My only other experience with Lock Stock & Barrel was their 20 Year, which was phenomenal. I know I went from an extreme to a lesser known offering, but like I mentioned, I am impressed with this bottle. What's inside this gorgeous blacked-out bottle is a blend of delicious Rye from the US and Canada. The marriage is blended perfectly. At around $85, this is a well recommended pick-up if you see it. A great porch sipper!

Library Rating: 8.4 / 10

The Prideful Goat - 15 Year Cask Strength - Review

Stats

The Prideful Goat

Unfiltered Cask Strength

Kentucky Straight Bourbon

15 Year

Lot No. 3 / Bottle 1961

Bottled by Gulf Coast Distillers - Houston, Texas

114.1 Proof

Mash Bill: 78.5% Corn, 13% Rye, 8.5% Malted Barley

Retail Price: $125

Poured Neat in a Snüte Tumbler

Color: Dark Amber

Nose: Baking Spices, Oak, Leather, Tobacco and Toffee

Palate: Brown Sugar, Snickerdoodle Cookies (Butter, Cinnamon and Sugar), Flakey layer of Toasted Caramel

Finish: Warm and Powerful. A Long Linger and a very Viscous Coating.

Overall: I saw a photo of this bottle a few months ago on social media and after some research based off the name and age alone, I knew I needed to locate a bottle and get this in my belly. The color in the bottle alone is so inviting. You can almost taste the oaky pleasure you're about to dive into. The Nose is very familiar and one I'm sure you'd be able to pick out of a lineup with ease. The Palate on this bottle is where I became hooked. As I mentioned, I'm reminded of warm fresh baked Snickerdoodle cookies from the first taste. But that's not all, add a flakey layer of caramel on the bottom edges of that cookie and you have an incredible dessert in a glass. There's still plenty of that toasted char influence (Level 3.5) and all 15 years of oak dancing around my glass to keep things well rounded and complex. It's tough to stop at only a couple sips, so consider yourself warned.

Library Rating: 9.1 / 10